Autumn Tale (1998)

A widow's best friend tries to find her a new husband, but the ad posted in the newspaper attracts more than one possibility.

Director:

Éric Rohmer

Writer:

Éric Rohmer

Stars:

Marie Rivière, Béatrice Romand, Alain Libolt

5 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Marie Rivière	...	Isabelle
Béatrice Romand	...	Magali
Alain Libolt	...	Gérald
Didier Sandre	...	Étienne
Alexia Portal	...	Rosine
Stéphane Darmon	...	Léo
Aurélia Alcaïs	...	Émilia
Matthieu Davette	...	Grégoire
Yves Alcaïs	...	Jean-Jacques

Storyline

Magali, 45, is a wine producer in the south of France. She's a widow, and her best friend, Isabelle, decides to find her a new husband. She puts an ad in the local newspaper and finds a nice man, Gérald. At Isabelle's daughter's wedding, Magali eventually meets Gérald. But there's another man around, Etienne...

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Plot Keywords:

drinking wine | countryside | winery | grape | kiss | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild thematic elements

Did You Know?

Trivia

Back around 2012, there was a published list of films not available on DVD but should be. This title was at the top of the list. Amazon tells me in 2020 it's for sale at $100 in a zone 2 format. We live in hope since Rohmer films abound, now streaming on many services.

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Quotes

Gérald: You really fooled me. I was ready for anything but this. You see, in a way, I'm relieved: Something was fishy, but I couldn't figure it out. But I'm disappointed, too. Very much so. I was already more than interested in you. I don't want to shock you, but I wanted to love you, and I'm frustrated.
Isabelle: OK, stop this nonsense.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: The Haunting/Lake Placid/Drop Dead Gorgeous/Inspector Gadget/An Autumn Tale (1999)

User Reviews

Eric Rhomer's gently sexy autumnal romp through the countryside of France

"Autumn Tale" is a friendly, rambling french film. Beautiful visuals. And, as always, the french have a realistic, sanguine approach to female and male beauty, where the women of the film are not hollywood-ized, but their natural beauty is enhanced by the french countryside's autumanl splendor. One middle aged woman plays matchmaker for her friend, but does not tell her she's placed an ad in the personals. Someone else plays matchmaker, and then threads of story lines appear and vanish like possible lovers come and gone. Rhomer is not a natural storyteller, but this film is not terribly amibitious or weighty, but a golden, good-natured romp through french womens' psychees and sweet taut clothing. The female leads are compelling and edible, again, because the french love to present beauty through the lens of reality and possibilty. Tasteful lust. Realistic. Wild, dionescian hair on the earthmother, tilted uterus'd owner of the winery. Tres elegante is her friend living a bit vicariously through her man-hunt. Fun film but don't expect a great story here. But, oooo la la, what curves and sex have the women of middle-aged france.

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

23 September 1998 (France)

Also Known As:

Autumn Tale

Filming Locations:

Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux, Drôme, France

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$33,631, 11 July 1999

Gross USA:

$2,205,339

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,221,438

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les Films du Losange, La Sept Cinéma, Canal+

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1