One word: indecision. At the end, Gaspard sounded to me like Meursault in "The stranger" (Albert Camus): he's not proactive, letting events decide for him. Except that Gaspard is young, and I guess this indecision is part of growing. Wasn't so different myself not so long ago, I am even still somewhat when it comes to relationships. Except that this indecision doesn't lead him to murder of course, just to maybe miss something and prepare ground for potential regrets. But for Meursault's defence, the last exception is that Gaspard is far more pretentious, trying to justify his attitude and doing so fooling himself about his free-will. Meursault is an idiot, yes, but he never tries to pretend he's clever. Gaspard is an idiot, plus he's scamming himself. Writing this I realize it's even more hopeless: he made this incredibly bold move to go where she will be on holidays, just like this (OK, he did it because an opportunity happened) to try to force his luck. And finally managed to back out while giving the impression he wasn't doing so. He made a move, got scared she might back out, thus took the opportunity of messing things. Gosh, I am such a Gaspard myself sometimes...

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.

Conte d'été is just a great movie because it reflects how life is instead of demonstrating how it should or could be. There's absolutely nothing happening that makes you wonder: "What the hell is going on now" It could be the real holiday story somebody tells his good friends. It's so brilliantly realistic almost like a documentary movie. However, this doesn't mean there is no interesting plot. It's just pure life, there are real dialogues not this awful kind of small talks and pseudo intellectual nonsense which we know too good from Hollywood movies. Also the director has a feeling for significant details. The music scenes are just great and the landscape is just wonderful. Now I think I have to discover the Bretagne myself.... Some may criticize that the protagonists seem so helpless and remain unsatisfied during the plot but as I said, this movie demonstrates how life is and not how it should be. This is a very important difference. Of course the end is somehow unsatisfying but this is life and from some point of view it's a happy ending, too. Apart from that, it's not correct calling Gaspard a dull person as many did. He's shy and he's an artist. He doesn't like to be in a group and so on. But his character which lead to this unusual behaviour makes him so interesting. He is not showing emotions very often but in every moment you can imagine he is in an inner struggle.

First of all, let's say that Eric Rohmer deserves a 7 foot, solid gold Oscar, because he is one of the very last directors NOT to use Hollywood music. Or better: elevator muzak. He does not use music at all, unless someone within the story is singing or playing or listening.No need here for external cues to explain to the viewer what's happening on screen. What a terrible shame Rohmer is the last to do so !!!The cinematography of this SUMMER TALE flows magnificently, playing with the backdrop of beautiful Brittany. There are no hard or harsh cuts; no need for welding goggles to sit through this movie !This is a small yet honest tale: the protagonists talk, rather than babble or throw comic book lines at each other.A SUMMER'S TALE is not an epic, nor depicting a world changing event or some bigger than life humdrum. In all its subtlety and sincerity it is something that could happen to all of us.Thank you Monsieur Eric Rohmer for yet another wonderful film.