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Claire's Knee

Play trailer Poster for Claire's Knee PG Released Feb 1, 1971 1h 43m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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96% Tomatometer 23 Reviews 85% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Jerome (Jean-Claude Brialy) decides to prepare for a lifetime of matrimony by enjoying one last vacation by himself. Upon arriving at his lakeside destination, however, he finds Aurora (Aurora Cornu), a love from his past who is staying nearby. Through Aurora, Jerome is introduced to two teenage sisters, Laura (Béatrice Romand) and Claire (Laurence De Monaghan). Although Laura is smitten with Jerome, it is Claire -- or, more precisely, her knee -- that fascinates the soon-to-be-married man.
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Claire's Knee

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Critics Consensus

Told through precise body language and sunny wit, Claire's Knee makes an unusual love story feel universal.

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Critics Reviews

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Time Out The film was rapturously received as a cinematic equivalent to Jane Austen at the time of its original release. Feb 9, 2006 Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Claire's Knee is a movie for people who still read good novels, care about good films, and think occasionally. Rated: 4/4 Oct 23, 2004 Full Review Vincent Canby New York Times Comes very close to being a perfect movie of its kind. Rated: 5/5 May 20, 2003 Full Review Elissa Suh Moviepudding A more perfect inauguration and encapsulation of warm weather... Aug 21, 2023 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Love, sex, fetishism, and objectification all receive verbal workouts in this witty and wise enterprise. Rated: 3.5/4 May 23, 2020 Full Review John Hofsess Maclean's Magazine Claire's Knee, with its lucidity, bittersweet wit, unpredictable characters and tight directorial control, is certainly a rare bird among modern movies... Oct 21, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member It's a masterpiece. Nearly everything in this film is perfect, from the direction by Mr. Rohmer to the beautiful locations, from the intelligent natural cinematography to the convincing actors and the soundtrack which is as natural as it can get, creates a perfect balance of a film. You can watch it over and over again. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Audience Member A very simple, but thoughtful movie. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Audience Member A sharp and witty script set to beautiful scenery. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member It's hard to put into words the intrigue of this film. It's very beautiful, and as is common with Rohmer, full of sexual tension. But that provides a vehicle for him to explore the inner life of the protagonist in a memorable way. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Audience Member 8.5/10, my review: http://wp.me/p1eXom-2x5 Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/16/23 Full Review Audience Member A film about a man in his late 30's or so are on vacation. He is engaged but still a man filled with opinions about and experience with women. I get the vibe from Linklater's films as we meet the first lady here. They just chat. They seem to have a solid history. There are few men here, except from the lead, Jerome. He is a nice and smart man, and to help his known ladyfriend writing a story, he fakes a passion about a much younger girl. It's never unpleasant, but still unsettling all the way. It's all in the viewers head in a way. Then he meets Claire. A very young lady, still very beautiful. He kind of wants her, but he just want to know that he really can have her - even if it's wrong for many reasons. He want's to prove something. First and foremost he wants to touch her knee. The dialogues are clever and poetic. It's setting is in nice surroundings, summer in France. Sometimes by a small boat, other times we're in a garden - listening to their chatting. A slow but pleasent film. Great characters and super acting, especially by the lead. Provocative but very subtly so. It's about love, sex and moral - but all key elements stays hidden. It's radio erotica. My first Rohmer film. It's a possibility there may be more. 7.5 out of 10 motorboats making (French) new waves. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis Jerome (Jean-Claude Brialy) decides to prepare for a lifetime of matrimony by enjoying one last vacation by himself. Upon arriving at his lakeside destination, however, he finds Aurora (Aurora Cornu), a love from his past who is staying nearby. Through Aurora, Jerome is introduced to two teenage sisters, Laura (Béatrice Romand) and Claire (Laurence De Monaghan). Although Laura is smitten with Jerome, it is Claire -- or, more precisely, her knee -- that fascinates the soon-to-be-married man.
Director
Éric Rohmer
Producer
Pierre Cottrell, Barbet Schroeder
Screenwriter
Éric Rohmer
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Production Co
Les Films du Losange
Rating
PG
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
Canadian French
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 1, 1971, Wide
Release Date (DVD)
Mar 31, 1998
Runtime
1h 43m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.37:1)
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