Cinema
My Night at Maud's
Ma nuit chez Maud
Éric Rohmer · 1969
Synopsis
In Clermont-Ferrand, at Christmastime, Jean-Louis, an engineer and fervent Catholic, notices a young blonde woman at Mass and vows to marry her, without having yet approached her. He runs into Vidal, an old Marxist friend, who takes him to Maud's, a recently divorced woman doctor. The three of them discuss religion, morality and Pascal's wager. Snow falls, and Jean-Louis spends the night at Maud's.
Context
It is the third of Rohmer's six moral tales; the shooting was delayed by Jean-Louis Trintignant's unavailability. The film is in black and white, and Néstor Almendros is its cinematographer, with Clermont-Ferrand under snow. Françoise Fabian plays Maud, alongside Marie-Christine Barrault and Antoine Vitez. Released on 15 May 1969, it is made almost entirely of conversations.
Who it is for
About an hour and three quarters; a film of talk, which asks the viewer to enjoy conversation more than action.
Prizes and reception
Nominated for the Oscars for best foreign-language film and best original screenplay; Criterion restored it in 2K in 2020.
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