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THE GIRL FROM PARIS Send This Review to a Friend
There is considerable visual beauty in "The Girl From Paris," Christian Carion's film about a woman searching for a new experience in life, which she finds by buying a farm and trying to survive the ordeal of running it. A friendship of sorts develops between the newcomer and the elderly farmer who sells it to her and, under the arrangement reached, is able to continue living there for a year and a half.
Mathilde Seigner, among France's best actresses, plays Sandrine, the new farmer, and Michel Serrault, one of France's top actors, plays Adrien, who sells his property to her. These two strike sparks. Serrault, who is marvelous when he gets a colorful character part, is particularly good here.
Adrien would like to see Sandrine fail and he is not above trying to sabotage her. His ego and pride are at stake. After all, she's a city dame and what does she know about farming? But Sandrine has plenty of determination and her own pride, and Seigner is just the actress who can communicate such strength. A grudging admiration for her ensues on the part of Adrien.
It is no surprise that the picture involves coming to terms between the odd pair, but there is pleasure in watching the mutual respect evolve. Inherently, the film touches on issues of growing older in the face of being replaced by newcomers, the age-old rift between city and country and the restlessness of someone who finds life unsatisfying and seeks new frontiers.
All of this is embodied in Carion's carefully paced, earthy film, which also has its moments of humor as the antagonists square off. A further amusing touch is provided by Jean-Paul Roussillon as Adrien's pal. A Filmsphilos release.
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