La Provinciale (1981)
Directed by Claude Goretta

Film Review

As in Claude Goretta's previous film, the captivating La Dentellière, La Provinciale revolves around a young woman who sets out in search of fulfilment only to end up in a world from which she feels alienated. Whereas the heroine in the earlier film (played magnificently by Isabelle Huppert) is portrayed as an innocent victim, the heroine of La Provinciale is a strong-minded independent woman who is better equipped to choose the life that will suit her. In both cases, the central protagonist comes up against prejudice which prevents either from finding true happiness. Goretta's films are a solemn indictment of the extent to which the barriers that still exist in society can inhibit personal development.

La Provinciale is the weaker of the two films - it lacks the focus and intense poignancy of La Dentellière and its central character is harder to read and more difficult to engage with, despite a very creditable performance from Nathalie Baye. Goretta's mise-en-scène is however just as beguiling, amd the sense of melancholy that permeates the film is recognisably his own. In common with much of the director's work of this period, La Provinciale is a sombre reflection of a society riddled with prejudice and mistrust.

Film Synopsis

With little hope of making a career for herself in her home town in Lorraine, 30-something Christine moves to Paris and sets about looking for work.  Finding a decent job in the capital proves to be much harder than she had imagined and she soon becomes disgusted when men start trying to take advantage of her situation.  Christine has to make do with a number of temporary of jobs, and it is through one of these that she gets to meet Rémy, a married man who is living alone in Paris whilst attending a training course.  Unwilling to embark on a romantic affair that will only last a short time, Christine leaves Rémy and renews her efforts to find herself a job with prospects.  She strikes up a friendship with a young actress named Claire, who is encumbered with two children and resorts to prostitution to make ends meet.  Christine then makes the acquaintance of a depressive company director, Pascal Chatel, who recognises her talents and gladly offers her a job.  But on the day that Christine shows up for work she learns that Chatel has committed suicide.  For the girl from the provinces this is the last straw...