It's not as clinical as it sounds, and actually works as both an unusual narrative technique and as a drama. Resnais even manages to inject some humor in the proceedings. Another clever touch is how classic film footage is used to associate Depardieu with Jean Gabin and Garcia with Jean Marais. Certainly not by accident, Pierre's character is named Jean, and the three represent different coping strategies and different levels of consciousness. It's all pretty fascinating and succeeds quite well.

649

at the beginning i was really thinking i was going to hate this movie, there was a constant narration that was really annoying, but as the movie went on it grew on me. by the end i had really grown to appreciate this, this is truly a psychological masterpiece--although it is fairly bottom heavy.

"Mediocre and mostly conventional, but somewhat interesting."

#700

Not quite up to par visually with his best but thematically the film has Resnais' stamp all over it. The characters become increasingly compelling as the film progresses and the odd mix between psychoanalysis and storytelling meshes really well. It's interesting and thought provoking and quite unique.

Still trying to get the hang of the flow. Perhaps too much experimental for its purpose or maybe bleak. Nevertheless it has it's place both as a sociological experiment and in cinematic terms.

# 556

603

The readiness of its themes to present themselves is perhaps its only downfall - but such grand themes - and so [otherwise] wonderfully explored and realized by cast and crew. Few films require such concentration and reward it so greatly.