Une histoire simple

This simple story may not be so simple after all. Romy Schneider navigates between two men, is pregnant or not, is preoccupied with her colleagues at work, and with her friends.

Claude Sautet creates little slices of life that reflect the preoccupations of this petite bourgeoisie: worrying about their work, getting together with friends at the country house, having sentimental affairs.

The film is really centered on Romy Schneider's character, with all the others gravitating around her. One quality, which may or may not be linked to Romy Schneider's performance, which may or may not be linked to Claude Sautet's intention, is that the viewer is never allowed to guess the motivations or what is going on inside the head of Romy Schneider's character. She never does. She's always a mystery.

Claude Sautet uses very little music, and that's a good thing, because the images are already powerful enough.

To be seen essentially for Romy Schneider and her character. The rest of the film is moderately interesting and exciting: we feel relatively unconcerned by the vicissitudes of the various characters. Romy Schneider's character often remains a little mysterious, even opaque.

Claude Sautet achieves a light-hearted drama, because the vicissitudes of Romy Schneider's character and those who gravitate around her are not those of a dramatic comedy.