( 9 reviews )
-
( 1 of 1 found this review helpful ) Posted: Mar 5 2008
Adèle H, the daughter of French writer Victor Hugo, wrote in her journals that she would walk across the ocean to be with the lover who rejected her. François Truffaut's Story of Adele H chronicles that journey. One of the founders of the French New Wave film genre, Truffaut is best known for The 400 Blows, Jules and Jim and the Adventures of Antoine Doinel (The 400 Blows / Antoine & Collette / Stolen Kisses / Bed & Board / Love on the Run). In 1975, he gained notoriety with The Story of Adele H (L'Histoire d'Adèle H.), starring Isabelle Adjani (Camille Claudel, Possession) in the title role. Set in the 1860s and anchored in the actual diaries and letters of Adèle Hugo, the emotionally powerful film chronicles her obsessive, unrequited love for a womanizing British naval officer, Lieutenant Pinson (Bruce Robinson), a doomed love which ultimately leads to her into madness. When it comes to love for Pinson, Adèle is the female counterpart of Don Quixote. The film follows Adèle as she trails Pinson through the streets of Halifax, through the woods, and even as she spies on him in the arms of his sexual conquests. At night Adèle dreams she is drowning. Adjani's performance carries the beautifully-shot film, a performance which earned her an Academy Award Nomination for Best Actress. (She should have won, in my opinion.) Truffaut makes a cameo appearance in the film as the soldier Adèle mistakes for Pinson. This is one of Truffaut's best films, shot in somber tones of black, blue, and brown, appropriate for a love story devoid of any happiness. Highly recommended. G. Merritt
-
( 1 of 1 found this review helpful ) Posted: Mar 5 2008
Adèle H, the daughter of French writer Victor Hugo, wrote in her journals that she would walk across the ocean to be with the lover who rejected her. Fran��ois Truffaut's Story of Adele H chronicles that journey. One of the founders of the French New Wave film genre, Truffaut is best known for The 400 Blows, Jules and Jim and the Adventures of Antoine Doinel (The 400 Blows / Antoine & Collette / Stolen Kisses / Bed & Board / Love on the Run). In 1975, he gained notoriety with The Story of Adele H (L'Histoire d'Adèle H.), starring Isabelle Adjani (Camille Claudel, Possession) in the title role. Set in the 1860s and anchored in the actual diaries and letters of Adèle Hugo, the emotionally powerful film chronicles her obsessive, unrequited love for a womanizing British naval officer, Lieutenant Pinson (Bruce Robinson), a doomed love which ultimately leads to her into madness. When it comes to love for Pinson, Adèle is the female counterpart of Don Quixote. The film follows Adèle as she trails Pinson through the streets of Halifax, through the woods, and even as she spies on him in the arms of his sexual conquests. At night Adèle dreams she is drowning. Adjani's performance carries the beautifully-shot film, a performance which earned her an Academy Award Nomination for Best Actress. (She should have won, in my opinion.) Truffaut makes a cameo appearance in the film as the soldier Adèle mistakes for Pinson. This is one of Truffaut's best films, shot in somber tones of black, blue, and brown, appropriate for a love story devoid of any happiness. Highly recommended. G. Merritt
-
( 1 of 1 found this review helpful ) Posted: Mar 5 2008
Ad??le H, the daughter of French writer Victor Hugo, wrote in her journals that she would walk across the ocean to be with the lover who rejected her. Fran??ois Truffaut's Story of Adele H chronicles that journey. One of the founders of the French New Wave film genre, Truffaut is best known for The 400 Blows, Jules and Jim and the Adventures of Antoine Doinel (The 400 Blows / Antoine & Collette / Stolen Kisses / Bed & Board / Love on the Run). In 1975, he gained notoriety with The Story of Adele H (L'Histoire d'Ad??le H.), starring Isabelle Adjani (Camille Claudel, Possession) in the title role. Set in the 1860s and anchored in the actual diaries and letters of Ad??le Hugo, the emotionally powerful film chronicles her obsessive, unrequited love for a womanizing British naval officer, Lieutenant Pinson (Bruce Robinson), a doomed love which ultimately leads to her into madness. When it comes to love for Pinson, Ad??le is the female counterpart of Don Quixote. The film follows Ad??le as she trails Pinson through the streets of Halifax, through the woods, and even as she spies on him in the arms of his sexual conquests. At night Ad??le dreams she is drowning. Adjani's performance carries the beautifully-shot film, a performance which earned her an Academy Award Nomination for Best Actress. (She should have won, in my opinion.) Truffaut makes a cameo appearance in the film as the soldier Ad??le mistakes for Pinson. This is one of Truffaut's best films, shot in somber tones of black, blue, and brown, appropriate for a love story devoid of any happiness. Highly recommended. G. Merritt
