Bonjour Tristesse, based on the novel by Francoise Sagan, directed by Otto Preminger - Seven out of 10

Bonjour Tristesse, based on the novel by Francoise Sagan, directed by Otto Preminger

Seven out of 10

On some levels, this film is more than worthwhile, for it deals with crucial issues, tries to portray an alienation that could be suggested from the title itself – Welcome Sadness or Hello Sadness – and the direction is excellent, the cast superb, the setting could not be any better – The French Riviera.

Yet, with all these advantages and aces available, there is something missing – or it just that the motion picture has managed to perfection the goal of instilling a sense of ennui, tedium vitae in the spectator.

Cecile is the teenager at the center of the story, narrator and main character in one, portrayed by Jean Seberg with élan, but this is where a sense of imperfection, gaucherie or mistaken perspective is again felt.

David Niven is majestic, aristocratic, and resplendent in the role of Cecile’s father, Raymond, a man who likes young girls – and women in general, without a Time’s Up movement to discipline this often excessive philandering.

Deborah Kerr gives a solid performance as Anne Larson, a sophisticated, intellectual, well-educated, erudite woman who talks about Spinoza and encourages Cecile to better herself and read.

However, Anne is no longer twenty and this is the age where Raymond prefers his partners to be – in one devastating scene, Anne is forced  to hear the benefits of a tender age, while the man talks to another – unaware of the any other presence, except that of his interlocutor.

Elsa is exuberant, active, foolish, full of energy, sun burnt, unsophisticated, not concerned with books – well, not that much – and preferred by Raymond, who invites her to spend time on the French Riviera.

Meanwhile, Cecile meets a young man – he is twenty-five and underlines it, when he insists he looks much younger, but his age is sufficient for him to determine if he wants a serious relationship.

Philippe is a visitor in the same part of the Riviera, where he sails with a boat and is on holiday with his mother, when he becomes close to the teenager who has little to no love experience – allegedly.

When Anne arrives at the villa, a ménage a trois seems to be possible, although the difference in age between her and Elsa would suggest that Raymond would have one, rather than the other.

We could also consider The Honeymoon and The Coolidge Effects – in psychology, the former would indicate that after a period of about two years, many relationships would become strained.

Novelty would beat value, the male partner being inclined to seek new experiences, even when he is married to – or in a long term relationship – with a fabulous, Wonder Woman – evidently, this is a tendency and many very long marriages prove that this is something which has disastrous consequences in the other, multitude of divorces that are the result of infidelities.

It could be noted that the affair does not lead to a broken marriage, it is the symptom, not the cause of a defective bond and the Coolidge Effect could explain the impulse – that must definitely be controlled – of the male to have many sexual partners – or at least more than one.

Raymond becomes so attached to Anne that he thinks he will marry her, proposes, he is accepted and a date for marital vows is established and Elsa is estranged, finds refuge with Philippe and his mother.

At one time, Elsa and Philippe are engaged in what looks like physical intimacy, with inevitable coitus, just as Cecile and her father are passing by, near the coast where they take walks.

However, this is not a stable situation, these people have not decided what they want, they still have to figure out who they are – the Temple at Delphi used to have the mantra, the inscription:

Know Thyself

The characters of the film are far from achieving that goal – indeed, a major, philosophical accomplishment that would take a lifetime of retrospection, mediation and not the continuous pleasure seeking on the French Riviera…perhaps.

Le Monde includes the original material, the book written by Francoise Sagan on its list of best novels:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Monde%27s_100_Books_of_the_Century

In addition, the review of that work is available here: http://realini.blogspot.com/2018/07/bonjour-tristesse-by-francoise-sagan.html