La Vallée fantôme (1987)
Directed by Alain Tanner

Film Review

Typical of Tanner's later works, La Vallée fantôme is a pessimistic, loosely structured film which is centred around one man's futile attempts to regain his lost inspiration.  A sombre and melancholic work, it portrays a world that has lost it way and, like its central character, goes on drifting without any clear purpose or passion.  In some ways, it is Tanner's bleakest assessment of the way the world is heading - not towards economic disintegration or social fragmentation (themes of his 1970s films) but towards a dull, meaningless conformity.

The plot shifts rather awkwardly between four locations (set in France, Switzerland, Italy and New York) and lacks the cohesion and impact of Tanner's earlier films.  However, the film features pleasing performances from the three lead actors - particularly Jean-Louis Trintignant who is perfectly cast as the slightly cynical introverted screenwriter who has a wonderfully naive view of human relationships.  The film also differs from much of Tanner's other films in its abundance of dry comedy, making this one of the director's lighter and most accessible works.

Film Synopsis

In Geneva, Paul, a filmmaker in his fifties, has lost interest in his profession.  He wants to make another film, but he lacks inspiration and cannot decide either on the subject or the location.  In the end he decides that he should start by finding his lead actress, a face that will inspire him to complete this difficult enterprise.  The search appears futile.  Reluctantly, Paul takes on a younger assistant, Jean, who helps him in his quest.  In a small Italian village, Jean discovers Dara, a waitress in a modest eatery.  Dara has precisely the face that Paul has been looking for but unluckily for him she has absolutely no interest in becoming an actress.  In a desperate attempt to win over the young woman, Jean sells Paul's car and gives her the money she needs to travel to New York to find her father.  Paul follows Jean and Dara to America, confident that he has at last found his muse...