A sophisticated, literate gem. A film full of grace and gossamer joys.

Rohmer takes a character who is in some ways unlikable and yet manages to take a sympathetic look at him to leave us fascinated by what goes through his mind and, even though we might not want him to succeed in his pathetic and questionable ways, I was still left feeling sorry for how he was going to enter a seemingly loveless marriage. The Summer locales are beautiful, the dialogue impeccable and the film is thouroughly compelling.

Visually stunning, the colors left me floored. I felt that the dialogue was entirely believable for a bunch of people with all the time in the world in a majestic landscape. If their words were not playful, what could this movie have been about?

this movie has the most intense knee-rubbing scene ever

Strange and interesting.

Boy does Rohmer have a way with words. He makes dialogue just as cinematic as physical action. Characters dance around each other with their words: reasoning, justifying, arguing, lying, fantasizing, small talk, and waxing philosophical. They defy archetypes, and you find your feelings for each person gradually shifting. Almendros's camera, effortless and objective, captures astounding lakeside locations.

#416

passioante

This film had decent dialogue but yet had nothing interesting or meaningful to say about anything. Please attempt to move onto an issue that exists above the waist. Scenery is unbelievably beautiful yet the characters don't even appreciate it which made me angry. The best part of this movie was the final scene, in which the lead character literally explains the entire movie you just watched in detail. Thanks for treating your film like a sitcom, Rohmer!

Another treat from Rohmer. Whereas some filmmaking can have a musical quality to it, Rohmer achieves that effect with plain, spoken dialogue, which is rarely, if ever, where it manifests itself. There's always at least two layers in pretty much any given sentence in Claire's Knee, as well as a feeling that, in spite of a general lack of cinematographic razzle dazzle, this stuff could only work in the cinema.

Kind of ridiculous with no truly believable characters (perhaps except Claire), but it works because of how each character represents a part of our own selves.

There's a light creepiness underlying the entire film that keeps the you at arms length throughout the film, and yet the characters are interesting enough to draw you in. As absurd as Jerome's justifications for his behaviour are, they're interesting in the wider view of how people in general justify their actions. The young girls in the film are also quite interesting in how they manage to portray so many aspects of youth.

# 440

Jerome is despicable, with unconvincing justification for his foolish ideas and behavior. And there's his friend Aurora, who manipulates and encourages him into pursuing his baser instincts (all for the sake of literature, of course!). What makes this film palatable are Laura and Claire: two completely different young girls, but exceedingly well-drawn, believable and sympathetic. I still didn't like this one as much as the earlier Moral Tales, which I feel are more vibrant and well-rounded.

Too many nonsensical moments between all the philosophizing. I love Rohmer, but this is not one of his best.

I have some blockage in my brain that prevents me from liking Rohmer films.

385

450

A mostly pleasant (yet somewhat slight) morality tale about desire. There is ALOT of talking, which is not necessarily a bad thing at all. But it's the KIND of talking that sometimes grates. Characters sit around and talk about EXACTLY what they're feeling and thinking, instead of the filmmakers conveying that through visuals and symbolism...well, except for the knee obsession, of course. I initially found Jerome loathsome, but I came around on him by the end, and ultimately enjoyed this.

Full of delicious relationships, but too talky

Great Movie

It's a visual masterpiece. Nymphic tennis, the mountain climb, Claire herself, all stunning. It could be more enjoyable as a movie instead of a visual extravaganza but so what. Rohmer's dealing with color is so unique. Instead of going for the bright and pastel of Godard or the disregard of Truffaut he just makes the normal colors matter. I like colors. They be dope.