Évènements passés

Les parapluies de Cherbourg / The Umbrellas of Cherbourg

Friday, 18 May 2012

5.30 & 7.30 pm

Director : Jacques Demy

1964, 91 min

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg is a total work of art. Indeed Jacques Demy had decided to recolor for his film some streets of the town of Cherbourg, which is the background of the love story between Geneviève, who sells umbrellas in a tiny shop with her mother, and Guy, an auto mechanic. The two young people are making plans for their future. But their common dream will unfortunately be broken with the departure of Guy for the Algerian War.  The mother of Geneviève, on the road to ruin, encourages her to marry the rich Rolland Cassard…

All the feelings are reinforced by the unforgettable music composed by Michel Legrand, that makes the film incredibly moving. During the screening in the 1964 Cannes Film Festival, a large part of the audience was weeping buckets. The Umbrellas of Cherbourg also introduced Catherine Deneuve as a future major star of cinema. All the film can be seen as an ode to her beauty, with many amazing close-ups of her face.

The articulation of the two great talents of Demy and Legrand has produced a unique and ambitious work, often adored or despised by spectators, that has become an international reference of cinematographic art.

For more information, please send an email to culture_comm@afdelhi.org