Lost Souvenirs

As with all 'portmanteau' films there are segments that are bound to appeal more than others but this one has something for every taste. For those who prefer their romance to be bittersweet we have a tale of two former lovers reunited briefly on Christmas Eve. Devotees of farce will love the tale of the young man desperately trying to escape the clutches of his annoying girlfriend. Segment three which features a mentally unhinged murderer, is for those who like material of a distinctly darker hue and last but certainly not least we have a gentle comedy of a kind, well-meaning policeman who loses the object of his affections to a raffish street singer. The starting point for each of these stories is an inanimate object namely a statue of Osiris, a funeral wreath, a rabbit-fur scarf and a violin but each segment is vividly brought to life by some of the finest French actors of that, or indeed, any era. Their very names conjure up an image of impeccable artistry: Feuilliere, Brasseur, Philippe, Montand, Blier...... Excellent dialogue by Jeanson and the brothers Prevert, superlative production values and immaculate mise-en-scene by Christian-Jaque put this piece firmly in the category 'tradition of quality' so much disparaged by the New Ripple brigade. A film can be either a grevious disappointment or a jubilant surprise. This one is indisputably of the latter variety.