La Carrière de Suzanne (1963)
Directed by Eric Rohmer

Film Review

In the second of his Six contes moraux, Eric Rohmer paints an all too believable portrait of adolescent vice and vulnerability whilst pursuing the central linking theme of a moral dilemma concerning love and desire.   Here, the central character Bertrand is no more than a spotty youth, dependent on his parents for money and a total no-hoper when it comes to the opposite sex.  His moral dilemma is hence more theoretical than in the other five Moral Tales - even if he were able to choose between the two women in his life, it is certain that neither of them would reciprocate his feelings.  Yet, in his mind at least, the dilemma exists and it has a profound effect on him, as the film's conclusion reveals.

Although far less polished than Rohmer's subsequent films, La Carrière de Suzanne is an engaging work which clearly shows the writer-director's uncanny capacity for observing and then re-creating real-life situations on film.   Whilst the acting is not great, and technically the film is weak compared with Rohmer's later films, the characters in the film appear fully rounded and believable, thanks largely to Rohmer's naturalistic dialogue.

Film Synopsis

Bertrand and Guillaume, two students at university in Paris, are very different in both their temperament and their attitude.  The more reserved Bertrand watches with a mixture of admiration and contempt as Guillaume takes advantage of a seemingly naïve young woman, Suzanne.  He is unsure which of the two he despises most - Suzanne for allowing herself to be duped so easily, or Guillaume for his flagrant lack of morality.  Once he has grown bored with the liaison, Guillaume starts behaving like a despicable cad and Suzanne, disillusioned, immediately shifts her attention to the quieter Bertrand.  Unfortunately for Suzanne, Bertrand has absolutely no feelings for her - he has fallen for another woman, an Irish girl named Sophie, although the latter offers him no encouragement as she has set her sights on a more attractive man, Franck.  When some money sent to him by his parents goes missing, Bertrand is unsure whether Guillaume or Suzanne took it from him.  Bertrand's bungled attempts to pursue Sophie result in failure and Suzanne ends up marrying Franck.