Four Nights of a Dreamer (1971)

The 'dreamer' is Jacques, a young painter, who by chance runs into Marthe as she's contemplating suicide on the Pont-Neuf in Paris. They talk, and agree to see each other again the next ... See full summary »

Director:

Robert Bresson

Writers:

Robert Bresson, Fyodor Dostoevsky (short story "White Nights")

Stars:

Isabelle Weingarten, Guillaume des Forêts, Jean-Maurice Monnoyer

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Isabelle Weingarten	...	Marthe
Guillaume des Forêts	...	Jacques
Jean-Maurice Monnoyer	...	Marthe's Lover
Giorgio Maulini	...	Locksmith
Lidia Biondi	...	Marthe's Mother
Patrick Jouané	...	Gangster

Storyline

The 'dreamer' is Jacques, a young painter, who by chance runs into Marthe as she's contemplating suicide on the Pont-Neuf in Paris. They talk, and agree to see each other again the next night. Gradually, he discovers that her lover promised to meet her on the bridge that night, and he failed to turn up. Over the next couple of nights, Jacques falls in love with her - but on the fourth night her original lover returns...

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Plot Keywords:

bridge | female nudity | kissing | male female relationship | hugging | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

France Italy

Language:

French

Release Date:

2 February 1972 (France)

Also Known As:

Four Nights of a Dreamer

Filming Locations:

Pont Neuf, Paris 1, Paris, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Albina Productions S.a.r.l., I Film Dell'Orso, Victoria Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Marthe: What's the matter?
Jacques: I love you. That's the matter.

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Connections

Version of White Nights (2005)

User Reviews

Bresson's caressing camera still can't draw substance from these vacuous characters

Revered for his minimalist approach to cinema, writer-director Robert Bresson shows an unerring artistic eye for his surroundings in "Quatre nuits d'un rêveur", though he stumbles with his vapid script (inspired by Dostoyevsky's short story "White Nights") about two young people in Paris. It's a flashback-heavy non-romance between a starving artist and a suicidal girl. After stopping her from leaping from a bridge, the painter finds himself drawn to the girl during an intimate conversation wherein they reveal to each other their past regrets--but she's still pining for her fickle lover. Bresson and cinematographer Pierre Lhomme capture lyrical, lazy bits of business--and sensual though not erotic female nudes--but the characters never take shape, and the amateur actors (a Bresson specialty) aren't compelling. ** from ****