Very New Wave; self-aware, youth, modern relationships, film references galore, recalls the conversation-heavy Rohmer most of all. Even the sex scenes are all talk. The Mother and the Whore nevertheless made a splash thanks to some dirty dialogue and full nudity (or was it that unruly jab at Sartre). Vapid Alexandre and slutty but insipid nurse Veronika inexplicably fall in love despite their utter charmlessness and awful acting. Miraculously, the film does generate interest for 3¾ hours.

A very, very, very long movie populated by dull and obnoxious characters. I kept hoping that the protagonist would get hit by a truck. At one point he tells the Polish nurse, "I feel like I am boring you." I wanted to exclaim, "YEAH!!!"

Absolutely punishing. It deserves a higher rating probably.

#184

Talky, witty, provocative example of French New Wave, which Eustache shot in his own apartment and local bistros.

I certainly wouldn't call this the best French New Wave film, but it's got all the elements of the movement. The human element, sense of fun, and the political and social commentary, as well as overindulgent quoting and references, and a style that takes getting used to. Most of the time I was very involved with the characters and surprisingly moved by their ridiculous drama, but there are moments that go on too long and the whole film seems to go in circles, though I'd say that's intentional.

The dialogue consists mostly of Leaud's wannabe-deep observations, and his lover's telling him -- over and over again -- how much she's been fucked. Boy, does she fuck, and she can't wait to tell you about it. With the subpar acting, excessive dialogue, and the failure to use the medium of film to any sort of advantage, this would have been better suited as a short story... which could be digested just as completely in a quarter of the time.

# 156

Oo la la, those girl's armpits are way more hairy than Jean-Pierre Léaud's...

176

172