The Umbrellas of Cherbourg

This is a story of two young lovers who are torn apart when Guy (Nino Castelnuovo) is drafted and sent to Algeria for two years. When it turns out that their last night of love left Guinevere pregnant, her mother pushes her into the arms of a rich jeweler, and you know that heartbreak lies in store for the two. Meanwhile, almost as anticipated, Genevieve finds she is pregnant. The rich man (Marc Michel) falls in love with the daughter and begins a slow, indirect process which eventually leads to him asking for her hand in marriage even though he finds out she is pregnant. Soon after that Guy returns to the town, finds out what has happened, turns to drinking and then is rescued by Madeleine (Ellen Farner).
It’s a totally original film at least from what I’ve seen but the plot was hard to follow because of all of the singing. I have a taste for fairy-tale like movies that aim for magic rather than realism, and Umbrellas delivers because of its curious art direction. To me it is melodramatic. However, I hesitate to use the word melodrama, but that’s basically what the film is, both for the meaning of the word “melo” (music) and for the finely tuned emotions brought on the music. The music, which is nearly always impressive, compliments the actors. I feel at first the acting seems very plain. I think that’s due to the unusual approach. Catherine Deneuve’s beauty as a young woman keeps us from responding too much aside from her prettiness as she starts off as a typical love struck sixteen year old but by the end she becomes a more elegant young woman. I can merely say that the film turned out both sweeter and wiser than I anticipated.