The French Game

Jacques Doniol-Valcroze was a co-founder of Cahiers du Cinema. A respected reviewer and cinéaste but no great shakes as an actor and as a director did not exactly set the world alight!It is well-nigh impossible however not to like this unassuming, tender and unashamedly romantic opus which he has also written. It is essentially a ‘will they, won’t they’ movie and stars Jean-Louis Trintignant and the director’s future wife Francoise Brion. Individually both actors have charisma and together a distinct ‘chemistry’ which results in fascinating viewing. They represent two sides of the love triangle whilst all we see of the third side is his hand and the back of his head. The emotional soul-searching is balanced by moments of gentle humour.Editing is by Nadine Marquand, sister of actor Christian and Trintignant’s wife at the time. Plenty of seascapes and surprisingly deserted, sandy beaches captured by cinematographer Christian Matras. The rather saccharine score is what we have come to expect from Michel Legrand but at least no one bursts into song.As for Jacques Doniol-Valcroze it is indeed ironic that one who promoted the New Wave failed to cause much of a ripple.