They say that we are most nostalgic for the era in which our parents were young: perhaps that was the case with Jean Renoir, whose father Pierre-Auguste was of course a great Impressionist. Hence – perhaps – the interest in this return to Paris in the 1890s, with Jean Gabin dreaming of opening a more successful establishment with an invigorating dance which unleashes a jealous rivalry between his mistress Maria Felix and new star Francoise Arnoul. Incredible scene-setting, colour to wallow in, and the famous dance sequence is stupendous. Truly a carnival of delights.
mondomovies 