La P... sentimentale (1958)
Directed by Jean Gourguet

Film Review

Towards the end of his filmmaking career, Jean Gourguet was rapidly overtaken by the French New Wave and his films, modest auteur pieces, tended to fade from view as younger, more dynamic filmmakers stole the limelight.  La P... sentimentale was released just as the Nouvelle Vague was revving up and it is surprising how much it has in common with the early films of Truffaut, Rivette and Rohmer.  Gourguet's preference for filming in real locations and using inexperienced actors rather than established stars, to say nothing of his overriding interest in the problems of young people... these are aspects readily found in the films of the French New Wave directors. Had it not been for Truffaut's Les Quatre cents coups (1959), Gourguet might conceivably have had a more discernible impact on French cinema.

Where Gourguet differs from the new kids on the block is that he could never dissociate himself from the melodramatic form.  All of his films, to a greater or lesser extent, are melodramas, often with contrived plots and clichéd situations.  La P... sentimentale is especially deficient in this respect, which could explain why it is held in less regard than the director's previous studies of youth, Maternité clandestine (1953) and Les Premiers outrages (1955).  Whereas Maurice Sarfati was engaging as the wayward adolescent in the these earlier two films, as the central character in La P... sentimentale he finds it harder to steal our sympathies - his performance is more polished, but the spontaneity and the freshness are missing.  It's ironic that one of Gourguet's slickest films should be among his least satisfying.  Technically, the film is hard to fault, the performances are generally up to scratch (it's nice to see that Pierre Larquey and Andrex are still on fine form in the twilight of their careers), but the poetry and gentle humanity of Gourguet's earlier films are fast fading from sight.

Film Synopsis

Paty, a college boy, has fallen in love with Linda.  The only problem is that she is a prostitute and Paty's father is outraged when he learns that his son is involved with a member of her profession.  Linda's pimp sees an opportunity to extort money from Paty's family...