Nadja à Paris

The film says what it is as Nadja (acted and also written by Nadja Tesich) narrates her slacker existence in 64' Paris that is more (It has a better resume than our narrator.) a new wave Paris travelogue than Nadja. Nadja has the trendy look and possible mood of the impetuous, youthful feel ex-pat (ala Seberg) but only manages to project a spoiled child's lassitude which even at 24 minutes in length is overlong.

What makes this celluloid brevity interesting is the fact that it is directed by Eric Rohmer and lensed by Nestor Almendros (Days of Heaven). In Rohmer's case Nadja might serve as an opening to one of his moral tales - it certainly mimics the dull, self absorbed characters that never seem to get anywhere in his lengthier efforts. With Almendros photography you are given no clue he would become the accomplished cinematographer he was in both Europe and Hollywood. Some of it resembles my college film class super eight work with a poorly oiled tripod. It's encouraging to know that there were moments that he was as bad as me.