Rent The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964)

Pleasant surprise - The Umbrellas of Cherbourg review by CP Customer

Five minutes in to this film I was thinking to myself "why did I order this again?" but I was soon captivated and when the titles appeared wished I could have watched it again. It is famous for the photography but there are some very recognisable songs beautifully sung, fine acting performances and a classic storyline, enjoy.

French Romance (Spoiler). - The Umbrellas of Cherbourg review by Steve

Bittersweet musical romance which is so memorable because it is all sung, like an opera, and for the ultra-vivid set design of stripes and floral patterns in primary colours, like a sweetshop in a fairytale. Catherine Deneuve is the ultimate gamine in a role which made her a star outside of France.

She plays a 16 year old who falls for a young mechanic (Nino Castelnuovo). When he is sent to the war in Algeria, they drift apart and reluctantly make new lives which will never replace the rapture of first love. While the story is captivating and the performances are charming, it’s the staging which makes this so different.

It’s like a lovely enchantment. The speak-sung dialogue occasionally coalesces into a romantic ballad; I Will Wait for You was nominated for an Oscar and is now a standard. Michel Legrand scores the film with cool jazz and sweet, yearning, ameliorating strings…

…While the happiness of the teenage lovers slips out of reach, forever. As the dream is lost, we feel the weight of our own memories. There really is nothing else like this- well apart from Jacques Demy’s own imitation, The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967), also with Deneuve. But this is far better!