Review of The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) by Eric F — 09 Jun 2008

Before getting into my thoughts of The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, it's important to point out that I can't say i've enjoyed too many musicals in my life. I always think they're too phony and cookie cutter to get anything meaningful out of them. However, this film is an absolute masterpiece and I loved every minute of it. And no, I don't think it's a "good for a musical", it's great for any genre you want to lump it in. It's perhaps one of the finest romantic dramas there's ever been.

As a musical, this film is very unique and quite frankly unusual in many ways. First of all, you'll notice right off the bat that there's absolutely no dialogue that isn't accompanied by song. We never get a "break" from the music, the music becomes a character in itself. Within the first ten minutes of the film I was thinking "What'd I get myself into...", but by the end, I barely realized there was singing at all. Also, this lacks the big dance numbers that we'd expect, which was also a relief to me. And most importantly, this isn't your typical romantic musical fare... nor is it a by the numbers tragedy. It's a complex study into human nature and the film works on so many levels... for a genre that tends to force happiness and glee upon it's audience, this is one musical that offers a hell of a lot more. It's smart, and very well constructed.

Catherine Deneuve, one of the most strikingly gorgeous women you'll ever see, stars as Genevieve. She's a 17-year old who has fallen in love with 20-year old Guy, who works as a gas station mechanic. Genevieve's mother believes that Guy isn't good enough for her, and she prefers a man named Roland Cassard - a rich man who could provide Genevieve's family with whatever they desire. When Guy has to go off to war for two years and leaves Genevieve back home pregnant, she must decide whether she can afford to wait for Guy or simply marry Roland for guaranteed stability.

This film was reconstructed many years after it's release, and therefore we get a magnificently clean soundtrack and the absolutely awe-inspiring colors in all their Technicolor glory. Every frame in the film is so colorful and beautifully composed... this is a musical without it's dance numbers, but the camera movements make up for the lack of choreography tenfold. There's a brilliant sequence when Guy is leaving on a train - we get a close shot of him as Genevieve fades in the distance. There's also very powerful romantic scenes here and there such as the scene with Guy and Genevive are seemingly floating down the street.

The soundtrack is also not your corny broadway nonsense, it's actually very powerful and enjoyable to listen to. Because there's so much music in this film a lot of it really blends together, but there's a reoccurring song throughout the film that's absolutely unmistakable. It's beautifully composed and forms the core of the film... by the time you hear it blaring just before the credits roll, you're bound to have chills up and down your spine. Really one of the most wonderfully composed songs you'll ever hear for a film. Unforgettable.

I understand that a typical moviegoer will see "foreign" and "musical" and be turned off instantly... but this is something that everyone can enjoy. It's a timeless love story and one of the most true to life films you'll ever see. I can't imagine a single person leaving this film untouched... it's absolutely marvelous. See it immediately.