s r
Very French, different and serious. I lost interest in the constant singing that undermined the drama.
Rated 2/5 Stars •
Rated 2 out of 5 stars
03/31/23
Full Review
Audience Member
While Demy continues his ability to use color and constant song to tell a story, this one is a little more depressing than his previous works. That being said, this mix of "Les Miserables" and "Romeo and Juliet" is heartbreaking on many levels, not the least of which was the character "Violette", who really got dealt the worst hand of the entire cast.
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
01/20/23
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Audience Member
I did NOT see that ending coming. Beautiful music throughout (every word is sung) and standard Demy flourish. Great acting by all the leads. I didn't care for the strike plot and was more interested in the romances.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
01/26/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Speaking of cruelty, Mr. Demy's previous legendary 'Les Parapluies de Cherbourg' is way more saddening. However, when it comes to the dark side of mankind and explosiveness, Une chambre en ville is unarguably crowned. Set in Nantes once again, the city where Anouk Aimée once pursued romance, the city is now engulfed in a strike and bitterness of Dominique Sanda. The provocative singing may seem going to far, but there's where Demy and his characters' passion originates. The tragic ending doesn't matter too much after all as it's vengeance and violence mean more. Great performance from the leading cast, especially Michel Piccoli, Danielle Darrieux and the sexy Dominique Sanda.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
02/25/23
Full Review
walter m
"Une Chambre en Ville" starts with Francois Guilbaud(Richard Berry) returning to his apartment to get the tear gas out of his eyes and clothing after the police forcefully break up a strike march, much to the consternation of Madame Langlois(Danielle Darrieux), his landlady. That bout of ill-will is nothing compared to what she feels for Edith(Dominique Sanda), her daughter-the-shrew(her words, not mine), who arrives for a very rare visit in just a fur coat and shoes, escaping at least for the time being from her impotent and abusive husband(Michel Piccoli), a television repairman. Meanwhile, Francois takes the time to visit with his girlfriend Violette(Fabienne Guyon).
Even though it occasionally contains music that could be considered anachronistic for its setting of 1955, "Une Chambre en Ville" is still an entertaining tragic operetta wherein it feels right for the characters to sing their emotions, considering how heightened they are. On the other hand, it does feel weird for the police to be singing their orders forcefully, although the world would be a better place if they actually did. As far as the melodrama goes, these characters go through more in the two or three days the story takes place than most people do in a lifetime. And then after all of that, the movie just stops.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
03/31/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Einer der groÃen ignorierten Filme der 1980er Jahre, und in historischer Hinsicht ein Scheitelpunkt fà 1/4r Jacques Demy. Einerseits ist der groÃe Misserfolg von UNE CHAMBRE EN VILLE, der ausgerechnet gegen eine Actionklamotte mit Belmondo an der Kinokasse unterging und dabei sogar noch einen kleinen Eklat in der französischen Presse verursachte, der Punkt des endgà 1/4ltigen Scheiterns von Demys "cinà (C)ma enchantà (C)e", und andererseits reflektiert die gewaltvolle Dà 1/4sternis seiner Grundstimmung und die wà 1/4tende politische Agitation, die den Hintergrund fà 1/4r das ewige Einanderverpassen, Finden und Wiederverlieren der allesamt in Melancholie treibenden Figuren bildet, diese Endzeitlichkeit bereits. Ein Alterswerk, ein Vermächtnis gewissermaÃen, auch wenn Demy danach noch 2 Filme inszenierte - und nach dem gleichfalls unerschrocken trauerumflorten und nicht weniger meisterhaften MODEL SHOP auch ein weiteres Zeugnis fà 1/4r die vermutlich nicht freiwillige, aber aus Getriebenheit zwangsläufige, unbedingte Konsequenz des Kinokà 1/4nstlers Demy.
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
02/11/23
Full Review
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