"we 're pretentious and insular and you know what, we don't care!" could be the tag line for this lost gem of the french new wave that's a fascinating document of it's time if not always exactly a fascinating movie. I can't help but think of the czech government's attempts to curtail their own new wave film movement not because the films were so wild or political but because they were so annoying and abusive of the paying audience. the strongest element is the visual style. there are alot of quick cuts, off beat angles surreal craziness and all in black and white. The plot gets lost in all the
depeche mode rather quickly though it's allowed to come up for air from time to time:
A french "this is your life" type tv show is profiling an american model who lives in Paris. The tv shows sarcastic middle aged producer (obviously a reflection of the filmaker) becomes sort of romantically involved with the model, Polly Mcgoo. this will strike the viewer as ridiculous to say the least but self indulgence and ego are in large supply. Lots of Jerry lewis type silliness and uninteresting quasi philosophy delivered with the seriousness of "hamlet" ensues. There's a generous helping of virulent anti americanism as well (at least you know it's authentic) and ms mcgoo herself is a preposterous doe eyed leftist just waiting to be molded by her superior french ....molders. There are a number of moments that do hold your attention especially the opening scene of models showing off a designers line of sheet metal clothing, but again, the visual element is stronger than the story and probably many will turn it off.
I don't doubt it captures the
zeitgeist of the era but do i care? that is the question.
