THE LACEMAKER
France/Switzerland, 1977, 107 minutes, Colour.
Isabelle Huppert, Yves Beneyton, Florence Giorgetti, Ann Marie Duringer.
Directed by Claude Goretta.
Any synopsis could do little justice to the humanity of this film. The title refers to a final poem suggesting a metaphor for the charming but passive vulnerable heroine. Isabelle Huppert gives one of those striking, and superlative performances that lingers in the memory. She is made the centre of our attention by the sensitive direction of Claude Goretta, whose 1973 film, 'The Invitation', about a shy middle-aged bachelor giving an office party, can be recommended. lie makes us see into this everyday girl, doing mundane things and experiencing _joy and sorrow that borders on. the cliche. What we see of her humanity gives this film its extraordinary value.
1. The significance and tone of the title? The importance of the final quotation: 'He passed her by, very close, without seeing her. Because she was one of those souls who make no sign, but who must be patiently sought, whom one must know how to see. In bygone days an artist would have seen her as the subject of a genre painting. She would have been a seamstress, a water-carrier, or a lacemaker. Beatrice as this kind of woman? Her surface, her depth - if any? The focus on a person and on a theme?
2. The qualities of the production: the importance of the colour photography, the capturing of the busyness of Paris life, the contrast with the seascapes, the hotels and cafes of Cabourg? The evocation of French paintings? The musical score and its classical tone, along with modern melodies? The French touch and atmosphere?
3. The atmosphere of the opening credits - the hair salon and the emphasis on their making of beauty? The contrast with the end and Pomme's withdrawal into her own world?
4. The introduction to Beatrice - the attraction towards her, Isabelle Huppert's presence, blankness, suggestion of depth, intensity, vulnerability? Her work at the shop? Her ambitions to improve as a stylist? Seeing her at home and the young girl being looked after by her mother? Her ordinary routines at how - meals etc.? Her moods? Beatrice's support of her? The initial comparison with her friend Marylene? Marylene and her relationships, vitality, passion? Bitterness at the break-up of her affair?
5. The important build-up of the relationship between Beatrice and her father? The small detail of how, their conversations, her mother's reflecting on her growing up? The flashbacks - did they explain Beatrice?
6. Beatrice and herself - her nickname of Pomme? Her dowdy appearance, her quietness, hesitation, observing people? Her friendship with Marylene and supporting her during the frantic emotional outburst?
7. The transition to the holiday - the two in Cabourg and the slowness of pace of life there, the beach, the cafes? Marylene and the insight the audience gained at her outburst in her apartment? Her desperation on the holiday? Taking up with men and throwing herself with them? Moving in with the other man and leaving Pomme? Pommels quiet wandering the town? Seeming fully occupied?
8. The initial meeting with François? The attraction? The simple ice cream together? Their seeming to share? The tentative response to each other?
9. How well did the film develop their relationship? Indicate the development of this relationship? Their eagerness in seeking each other out? Their shared interests? Walking around the town? Beatrice's shyness and reticence? Francois reading too much into her reticence? The lovemaking ~ Beatrice's virginity, her decision to give herself to Francois, his gentleness? The lovemaking as an expression of tenderness and genuine love and affection? The possibility of a more permanent relationship?
10. The return from the holiday? Beatrice's decision to move out of how? Her mother and her attitudes towards her living with Francois? Her support? Francois' manner?
11. The house into which they moved? Pomme 's contribution - her work, painting, tidying? François and his enthusiasm? Shopping sequences? Their seeming to be building a life together? What bases did they have in common for the relationship?
12. The visit to Francois' parents? Their seeming to like Beatrice? Francois and his ease and lack of ease? The discussions at the table? Beatrice being judged as decent? The comedy and irony of her choking on the fishbone - seeming to indicate she was unsuitable to this family? Politeness and manner covering scepticism? Beatrice's embarrassment? Her feeling out of place in this kind of society? Francois' inability to see her embarrassment?
13. Francois taking her to see his friends? Marianne and Gerard? Their friendship and courtesy? The intellectual discussions and Francois' enthusiasm? Pomme's presence. her blankness, asking questions? The discussions going over her head - indicating the lack of compatibility with Francois and preparing for the break between them?
14. The break-up of the relationship? Francois' assertive manner? Beatrice's passivity? Her being hurt? The background of her work in the shop and the film's attention to this detail - her being at home with the women customers, with the chatter? The possibility of becoming a stylist and improving herself? François and his studious background and wanting to improve her? His acting towards her as an employer and the criticism of Marianne?
15. The film's building up to Beatrice's illness? Her going into hospital? Her passivity in the hospital and withdrawal from reality? Her mother’s concern? Francois getting the courage to visit her? The artificiality and tension of their discussion? His genial manner, her smiling response? The discussion about the trip to Greece and her enthusiasm? The pathos of her return to her room with the posters of Greece?
16. The pathos of the ending - Francois going off to his life (how much realisation of how he had victimised Beatrice?) and Beatrice withdrawn from the world? The pathos of this kind of relationship coming to such an end? The director's comment about the theme: ‘The problem of the incommunicability between two people who are unable to love each other because they do not express themselves in the same way’.
17. How valuable and sensitive the exploration of characters? In their environment? By contrast with one another? The cumulative effect of the incidents and their comment on each other? The insight into human nature? The sadness of the film and its Perception of man's limitations?
