I watched this film on video and was going to come back to it later, as it was already late when I started. I ended up watching it to the end, captivated by the actors and the various elements woven into the "action" (the word action only being partly appropriate). You may find yourself wondering, should you watch it, how much was left out of the final cut: For several elements touched on as the film unfolded were left open-ended. For would-be actors (or directors) an example of the power of understatement.

Jean-Claude Brisseau is an interesting and very original filmmaker with a lot of personality. Personally, I find that he's "akin" with Francois Truffaut and Eric Rohmer. We find him here not only as a director and writer, but also as an actor. The whole movie is a philosophical dialogue between his character, Michel Deviliers and Dora's character, played by Virginie Legeay. Towards the end of the film we have Brisseau's personal brand, the erotic scene, very soft here, not hard as those in "À l'aventure". The film has a unique atmosphere, is well played. The end, most difficult for any film, is easily missed. Anyway, those who like movies like Batman, Superman, Captain America and other similar bullshit, to stay away, could commit suicide while watching...

I found this a wonderful portrait of an unusual relationship between an older man, a thinker, a philosopher, and a young woman, who turns out to be quite a special thinker herself. The main thrust of the story, is that each has a need for the other, but also each is fiercely independent. Consequently, this sets up a conflict, both inside the individuals and between them. The conflict is generally good-natured and it gave me the impression of jousting, to try to arrive at a compromise, that suited each of them. There is some interesting philosophical discussion. Unfortunately, I found the ending disappointing. It was abrupt, and gave me the impression, that the writer was at a loss, as how to end the movie. For me this, however didn't negate the interesting material, that proceeded it. Only for those, who enjoy watching the subtleties of human relationships.

I saw this at Pifan 2013 in Bucheon, South Korea. What seemed to be a simple drama about an older man who takes in a troubled young woman got weird with the occult and stuff. A man in Paris has lived alone for decades since the death of his wife. One day, he sees a woman being beaten up by a young man in the staircase of his flat, so he tends to her wounds and offers her a place to stay. He is in his 50s and she is 26 and has nobody. Surprisingly, she has a keen sense of intellect and helps him finish his book.The ending was rather weird, as the movie ends without closure about both the girl's past and psyche and the man's death, which might or might not have been staged by him. Because of this, I'd say give this a pass.