Oh, how the ease of immediate communication, whenever, wherever, has changed in the 20 years since the setting of this film. And yet, some things remain the same...In Éric Rohmer's "A Summer's Tale," Gaspard has just completed a graduate degree in mathematics and during the short end-of-summer weeks before he is to start his new job, he heads to a small village on the northern coast of Brittany with a mutually-agreed but vague plan to meet the object of his infatuation, Léna. The timing of her arrival is uncertain and she has left no way for him to be in contact.And so he passes the days idly looking for her as he goes to the beach, walks, and dines at a local restaurant--where he catches the eye of the waitress, Margot. Later Margot spots Gaspard on the beach and flirtatiously engages him in conversation, which is the start of a series of get-togethers during which the two talk about past, current and unrequited loves. A third woman, Solène, enters the picture when Gaspard catches her eye at a party and she later invites him to visit with her family.Léna finally arrives, and, when she and Gaspard meet by chance, she apologizes for her inability to announce the arrival, while dismissively adding that they found each other. It is apparent that Gaspard's interest is not reciprocated by Léna and thus begins a merry-go-round of meetings with each of the women, to further discuss love and plans to spend time together which lead nowhere.Gaspard is handsome but nearly feckless in persuading any of the women in getting what he wants, and so he broods. And he caves to the various demands and flighty changes of plans by the women, to the end, when he makes a final decision of his own choosing which does not accede to any of the women's.The circumstances of chance, planned and thwarted meetings and the way they play out is free of any false notes. The demands, the manipulations, the vacillations, Gaspard's palpable desperation are all artfully projected and utterly convincing. You feel at one time or other you have experienced some of the same confusion, frustration or angst, and you probably have.The film is dialogue- and situation-driven. While some of the depicted Breton coastline is picturesque, there are no sweeping vistas captured. There is little in the setting to seduce the eye, the film feels low budget, and in fact, it likely could have been filmed anywhere scenic to similar effect, a credit to the script and acting.The principal shortcoming is that the moping Gaspard is an uncompelling figure and so too are the women, two of whom are self-centered and manipulative. Only the infectious Margot displays redeeming qualities. It is a struggle to care what happens to any of the characters or how the story resolves itself.Also, there are brief moments in two or three scenes in which direction of the actors seems apparent--one, for example, when Léna meets Gaspard on the beach before she castigates him and her body is nearly fully turned toward camera versus more partly to him, never mind the nonverbal language of dismissive rejection, and another during the all close-up footage of her and Gaspard playing volleyball.In sum, a well-acted, well-scripted film, recommended for those who might have liked Richard Linklater's "Before Sunrise" and its two sequels.

A thoroughly self-absorbed French boy wonders why three lovely women aren't quite meeting all of his expectations. Spend an afternoon with him and you won't be wondering so much.The atmosphere and scenery were beautiful, so was the acting. Eric Rohmer has made some very sweet and intimate films but in this one he over analyzed young love until my head hurt. It was a bit too much.If you allow yourself, you can pretend that all of Gaspard's dilemmas were interesting and profound, but they weren't.Advice to Gaspard - Relax. Think about someone other than yourself for, I don't know, maybe five minutes. You'll see that things will work out just fine.

Dull French film from this reputable director is "A Summer's Tale" about a teenage guy who finds himself in a dilemma, having to chose between three girls during his summer riposte.Writer/director Eric Rohmer's film could be about the youth of today's lack of ability to be decisive, or perhaps it was focusing on their fear of commitment. "A Summer's Tale" could have been many things, but one thing it was not was interesting. Rarely does the pic grab our attention.The young cast try hard, but they too are left floundering by the weak, non-directional plot. Only Amanda Langlet, as the friendly Margot, delivers a showing that could be called memorable. This young thesp actually handles all the facets of the role very competently.Langlet is the only light though, in a bland coming of age film. Even the classy French scenery is somehow over-looked.Monday, May 4, 1998 - Hoyts Croydon

Gaspard, played by Melvil Poupaud, is a song writer, a good-looking butdull young man, a gauche loner with a flat voice and an inexpressiveface who comes to this delightful holiday island of Dinard off theBrittany coast to await the arrival of his `sort-of' girl friend, whodemonstrates how much she loves him by keeping him waiting for twoweeks. During those two weeks, however, he finds two other girl friendsor rather they find him. It must be his good-looks, it can't beanything else. First he is picked up in a restaurant by Margot, awaitress, who turns out not to be a waitress but an Ethnologist, justhelping out her aunt who owns the restaurant. Obviously such a brightand intelligent girl could not be merely working-class!Amanda Langlet, who plays Margot and who appeared ten years earlier inRohmer's `Pauline at the Beach.' is clearly the star of this film. Muchof the enjoyment of the film is derived from being in the company ofthis vivacious girl and being allowed to eavesdrop on her talk withGaspard about love and relationships as they roam in the bright sunlightaround this lovely French sea-side resort and the countryside beyond.She is such a very warm and sympathetic listener that it is difficult tounderstand why he doesn't fall in love with her. Why she doesn't fall inlove with him is easier to understand. (you ask yourself; is this man avery good actor or a very bad one?) He makes a couple of inept attemptsto move the relationship forward but is repulsed; she wants onlyfriendship - and you feel he is lucky to get that - while she awaits thereturn of her Anthropologist boy-friend who is away in South America.Gaspard's dullness is made obvious when she takes him to hear an oldsailor sing sea-shanties; her face so eager and enrapt as she listensintently; his face, alongside, so lifeless.She encourages him to take up with Solene, played by Gwenaelle Simon inher first film, a friend of her's who they meet at a dance, but when hedoes, she is jealous, jealous of their friendship she says but secretlyhurt that he now thinks of her as only a friend.His relationship with Solene seems idyllic at first, they seemmarvelously happy and well suited to each other. He is accepted warmlyinto her family, they all go sailing together and have a merrysing-a-long to one of his songs. But then, sadly, her true nature shows;she becomes aggressive and demanding, insisting that he take her to theisland of Quessant or their relationship is at an end. And now Lena, his`sort-of' girl friend, played by Aurelia Nolin, appears and insists thathe take her instead. He must now choose.Rohmer's films are never plot-dependent; he prefers to dwell on thecharacters, to bring us into a close, intimate relation with them, whilethey reveal themselves in talk. And when the characters are asattractive as Margot