This fourth of Eric Rohmer’s Six Moral Tales was made in 1969 and remains one of his best conversation pieces in which the word is all-important.
Stunningly shot in black and white by the great Nester Almendros, it is set during the Christmas season and has devout Catholic Jean-Louis Trintignant, who believes in pre-marital chastity, struggling with his conscience, thanks to the appearance of Marie-Christine Barrault’s pretty student in church.
Sexually speaking, his night with Maud, the provocative mistress of his Marxist friend, also turns out a dud, possibly because he drinks too much. But the conversation covers everyone’s motives and feelings, and that’s the point of the film. Now and then, however, you want to tell our devout friend to drop his doubts, and possibly his trousers, and get it on with Maud. Of course he never does.
My Night With Maud
Cert: PG
