Ma Nuit chez Maud (1969)
Genre: Drama
Duration: 110 minuten
Alternative title: My Night at Maud's
Country:
France
Directed by: Éric Rohmer
Stars: Jean-Louis Trintignant, Françoise Fabian and Marie-Christine Barrault
IMDb score:
7,8 (15.296)
Releasedate: 4 June 1969
This movie is not available on US streaming services.
Ma Nuit chez Maud plot
Jean-Louis is a Catholic in his thirties, an engineer by profession, who once had a brief affair in the past, but who otherwise believes in true love, without sex before marriage. He has a crush on Françoise, whom he sees on Sundays at mass, but does not dare to speak to her. One day, when he runs into his old school friend Vidal, he invites him to dinner with a friend of his, the recently divorced Maud. However, she is determined to woo Jean-Louis, and convinces him that driving home through the heavy snowfall is dangerous. Instead, she suggests that he spend the night with her.
Actors and actresses
Jean-Louis
Maud
Françoise
Vidal
Concert Violinist
Priest
Blonde Friend
Marie (uncredited)
Student (uncredited)
Reviews & comments
The One Ring
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- 29974 messages
- 4109 votes
Woody Allen's films are occasionally compared to those of Eric Rohmer, probably because of the emphasis on dialogue. That's why I thought that a film by Rohmer would suit me. That's true, although I don't immediately fall back with style on my first attempt, Ma Nuit chez Maud.
I especially struggled with the beginning and the end. Before things get going, there is an incredible length of talk about the work of a writer I've never read anything from or about: Pascal. So I just couldn't do anything with it. I found the ending a bit unbelievable. I'm not sure if it was Rohmer's intention (it may very well have been in hindsight), but I felt there will be no chemistry between Jean-Paul and the woman he eventually marries. That romance started off nicely, but their last few scenes felt a bit forced.
Fortunately, there is a long middle part: the moment to which the title refers. That one is very strong. Not least thanks to the deep, yet pleasant dialogues. It is also striking that the texts do not emphasize or explain much, but more subtly explore characters. In itself that is nothing unique, even a Quentin Tarantino does it, but Rohmer writes here at a particularly high level. And he has actors who can carry it. The two leading roles in the middle part are simply rock solid.
It's not just a dialogue film, by the way. The atmosphere is also very pleasant. It is not the most beautiful thing ever captured on film, but Rohmer knows how to give the wintry setting here something strangely warm. Beautiful, soft images of the snow in particular.
3.5* I will definitely see more of Rohmer, although he is not very high on my list of directors who deserve a lot of attention from me.
eRCee
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- 13403 messages
- 1953 votes
Pure talking film by Rohmer. Lots of Pascal especially. The dialogues are therefore a bit less natural than in Le Rayon Vert, which is a pity. Furthermore, Ma Nuit chez Maud is continuously interesting but never really got intense. It all seems too theoretical for that. However, I actually found the ending strong; here a choice of feeling is (finally) made. Without that, the movie would have been pointless. I'm at 3.5 stars.
Fisico (moderator films)
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- 9982 messages
- 5393 votes
A talking film about the love triangle between two friends and a mysterious sensual woman. A fairly theoretical film about philosophical and mathematical posturing that is entertaining in itself, but rarely gets really intense. Then I had to have more of the natural acting of Françoise Fabian in the first place, who leads the dialogues in a playful way and dominates Jean-Louis.
It's not the kind of relationship the Catholic Jean-Louis wants to get into. Give him the beautiful blonde Catholic girl Françoise with whom he already sees himself, even before he has spoken to her. Does Jean-Louis want stable love or does he go for excitement and adventure?
Good and atmospheric camera work. The environment is also excellently integrated into the whole (snow). Not blown away, but very solid Rohmer.
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