L'Adolescente (1979)
Directed by Jeanne Moreau

Film Review

Having established herself in the 1960s as one of France's greatest actresses, Jeanne Moreau turned her talents to film making in the 1970s, where she directed two films.  This, her second film, is an uncompromising and somewhat nostalgic look at sexual awakening in a young girl, set in the beautiful locale of the French provincial countryside.

Whilst visually the film is impressive, and we are treated to a fine performance from another former acting legend, Simone Signoret, the film does lack depth and intimacy.  The latter half of the film when the young Marie becomes envious of her mother and conspires to rekindle the passion between her parents has some touching moments but feels cold and contrived.

Whilst not quite so impressive as Moreau's first film as a director (Lumière ), this film has some merits, not least of which is that it presents a refreshingly honest examination of female adolescence.

Film Synopsis

In 1939, a Parisian butcher named Jean takes his wife Eva and their 12-year-old daughter Marie to the country, to spend their long summer holidays at his mother's house in Auvergne.  As the traumas of early adolescence begin to afflict her, Marie finds a welcome confidante in her sympathetic grandmother, who seems to know everything about the strange changes that are taking place within her mind and body.  The girl develops a strong attraction for the local doctor, an unmarried Jewish man in his early thirties named Alexandre, but when she reveals her feelings for him he is shocked and instantly drives her away.  The pain of rejection is heightened when Marie notices a bond of intimacy developing between her mother and Alexandre.  With Jean away helping with the harvest, his wife has ample opportunity to see Alexandre without his knowing.  The idyllic holiday ends with Jean uncovering Eve's infidelity and then getting into a fight with her lover.  The stormy family row that ensues is eclipsed by the news that war has suddenly broken out in Europe...