I first saw this bizarre slice of British French New Wave inspired cinema at the age of 11 on TV with my parents. I thought it was extremely boring and just about a woman thinking outloud while riding a motorcycle. I only ended up seeing about twenty minutes of it. I was of course wrong about this, but I think it is a love it or hate it film. The film is directed by Jack Cardiff, without doubt one of the greatest cameramen and cinemtographers the UK has ever had. The film is incredibly stylish with it wearing its influences on its sleeve: Goddard, Truffaut and pop art. The film is effortlessly cool with a classy jazzy soundtrack by Les Reed. Alain Delon being urbane. Marianne Faithfull being the thing of male fantasy wearing tight leathers and her long blonde hair blowing in the breeze down country roads.
Thematically the film reminded me of Rabbit, Run in terms of a character fleeing a fading marriage to be with another lover. Of course, the motorcycle represents her freedom and escapism from what she considers mundane life. Interestingly the film pre-dates Easy Rider which would cement the motorcycle as the symbol for freedom and rebellion. It is easy to write off as a film where not much happens or eye candy without substance, like I did at the time in my adolescent brain. I think that is diluting it, it is of its time with even a few psychedelic scenes thrown in, but it is hard not to be captivated by the scenery and just pure chic.
As far as films go it is better than Goddard's worst films, but not as good as his best. In terms of British films it is part of the stylish New Wave inspired films like those by Tony Richardson before the grim, social realist movement really took hold with Ken Loach and Mike Leigh. I've also heard this be described as a feminist film which I think was more by accident than design, any more than Rabbit, Run is "intentionally" considered to be sexist. It's simply a case of modern audiences viewing it with a different set of values. I can see why this film is regarded as both important and a classic of British 60s cinema; it has that weird limbo space of being slightly ahead of its time while very much a product of its time, a lot like Easy Rider.
Overall: well worth a look, but your mileage may vary with this one.
Thematically the film reminded me of Rabbit, Run in terms of a character fleeing a fading marriage to be with another lover. Of course, the motorcycle represents her freedom and escapism from what she considers mundane life. Interestingly the film pre-dates Easy Rider which would cement the motorcycle as the symbol for freedom and rebellion. It is easy to write off as a film where not much happens or eye candy without substance, like I did at the time in my adolescent brain. I think that is diluting it, it is of its time with even a few psychedelic scenes thrown in, but it is hard not to be captivated by the scenery and just pure chic.
As far as films go it is better than Goddard's worst films, but not as good as his best. In terms of British films it is part of the stylish New Wave inspired films like those by Tony Richardson before the grim, social realist movement really took hold with Ken Loach and Mike Leigh. I've also heard this be described as a feminist film which I think was more by accident than design, any more than Rabbit, Run is "intentionally" considered to be sexist. It's simply a case of modern audiences viewing it with a different set of values. I can see why this film is regarded as both important and a classic of British 60s cinema; it has that weird limbo space of being slightly ahead of its time while very much a product of its time, a lot like Easy Rider.
Overall: well worth a look, but your mileage may vary with this one.