Une histoire simple (1978)
Directed by Claude Sautet

Film Review

Having appeared in four of Claude Sautet's previous films, mainly in significant supporting roles, Austrian-born actress Romy Schneider takes centre stage in Une histoire simple.  As the title suggests, there isn't much to the plot: it is just another tale of friendship, midlife crisis and romantic heartache.  However, Sautet's treatment of the subject makes it a compelling and deeply moving piece of cinema, full of poetry, charged with meaning, so touchingly sincere, so refreshingly unsentimental.

Despite the simplicity of the narrative, Sautet touches on a number of social themes whilst exploring a middle-aged woman's reactions to events taking place around her.  The personal crisis that unemployment brings, the increasingly fragmentary nature of male-female relationships, the unattainable nature of true love, the agony of a woman's decision to abort a child, the importance of friendship, the acceptance of one's mortality  - a simple story, but one with so many crucial human strands.  The film might easily be a social drama but it isn't.  Rather, it is a very personal and intimate portrayal of one very ordinary person who is trying to make the best of her life in a world which no longer seems to care for the individual.

That the film has such a strong impact is primarily down to Romy Schneider's sensitive and intensely introspective performance.  In her later films, of which this is a good example, Schneider exposes a dark and vulnerable side to her character, something which is scarcely discernible in her previous work.  This may reflect the crises that she was experiencing in her own personal life, and it is possible that films such as Une histoire simple give us a harrowing glimpse of the true Romy.   In any event, this film confirms her as on of the greatest performers of her day, a genuine artist who was unspoilt by her fame or wealth that her talent earned her.  For this memorable role she was justly rewarded with the Best Actress award at the Césars ceremony in 1979.

Film Synopsis

Marie decides to break up with her boyfriend Georges and to abort his unborn child.  As she nears forty she seems to have reached a crossroads in her life but doesn't know where she is heading.  She returns to her ex-husband, Georges, and rekindles their erstwhile passion, even though Georges has re-married.  When a friend of hers loses his job, Marie persuades Georges to try to find him employment in his company.  His failure to help contributes to Marie's decision to walk away from him, even though he has made her pregnant.  Alone once more in her life, Marie decides to keep the child.