Review of Model Shop (1969) by Christopher S — 16 Nov 2010

"The Model Shop" starts with George(Gary Lockwood) and Gloria(Alexandra Hay) being rudely awakened by a knock on the door from a repo man wanting to repossess his car. George stalls long enough to get an extension through the end of business but his girlfriend has seen enough, wanting a commitment and him to get a job. An architect by trade, he quit his lob in search of something meaningful to do with his life which is not that easy. On the other hand, finding the $100 necessary to keep his car is not that difficult, giving him enough time to follow an older woman(Anouk Aimee).

While "The Model Shop" may have the flattest line readings on record, it still stands on its own as a curio from a different time. Viewing Los Angeles from an outsider's perspective, writer-director Jacques Demy sees an automobile culture, each car being a status item with George not being able to afford his. That does not really matter much with the draft hanging over him, not allowing him much thought for the future. Come to think of it, we're not really interested in his future; it is Lola's, continuing her story from a previous film of Demy's.