BAIE DES ANGES (BAY OF ANGELS)

France, 1962, 85 minutes, Black and White.
Jeanne Moreau, Claude Mann, Paul Guers.
Directed by Jacques Demy.

Bay of Angels was the first film of French director Jacques Demy. It is a brief portrait of gambling at the Mediterranean casinos.

The film is a star vehicle for Paul Guers and is also a tour de force for Jeanne Moreau. Emerging as one of the main French leading ladies, she also played in Truffaut's Jules et Jim in 1963.

The film is brisk, creates its characters swiftly in action and talk, focuses on the casinos and the addiction, the bond between Jean and Jacki. It moves to moral ambiguity with their relationship and their dependence on each other as well as on the gambling. Finally, it moves to a brief moment of moral decision.

The film was part of the French New Wave and Demy was to go on to his next film, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg.

1.Interesting French drama? Characters? Gambling? Dependence and addictions?

2.Black and white photography, homes and offices, the beaches of the Riviera, the casinos and hotels? The musical score?

3.The title and its focus on the Riviera and gambling?

4.The introduction to Jean, his friend and work, the discussion about gambling and addiction, the prospective holiday? Jean's clash with his father and his father virtually throwing him out? The implications of the possibility of an addiction? His going on vacation, getting the money, seeing Jacki being put out of the casinos? The beginning of his gambling, the encounters with Jacki, attraction, helping her with the money, understandign her addiction, the friendship, the infatuation? The nature of their relationship? Emotional, sexual? The continued gambling, his wariness, yet his attraction towaqrds her? The money lost? Their discussions about gambling, the discussions about her giving it up, the train fare and going away? Yet her return to him at the beach? The further gambling, the wins, the extravagant buying, the car? Going to Monte Carlo? Losing the money, his disillusionment? Wanting to go away, the final challenge - and her going to him?

5.Jeanne Moreau as Jacki: her appearance, the white hair and the white dress? Being ejected from the casino? Her play, her style, dependence? Jean and his help, her using him, relying on him? Her talk about her husband? The infatuation, the sexual relationship? The losses, the use of money, the wins, the extravagance of spending? The on-and-off relationship? Her wanting to leave, going to her friend, getting the money, the return? The final play - Jean's challenge? Her sudden leaving the table and going to him? Credible?

6.Jean and his friend, the discussions about gambling, paying debts, being able to buy cars? The lure of easy money? His later encounter with Jean and his surprise at his being at the casino?

7.The brief glimpse of Jean's father, the hostility towards his son, the discussion about debts and wanting him out of the house?

8.The atmosphere of the casinos, the tables, the games, the patrons, the attendants? The hotels? The Riviera lifestyle, the high life, the beaches?

9.A film of the early '60s? Its universal message? Impact in later decades?