Musical Mondays: The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964)

     The Umbrella's of Cherbourg was released in 1964. It is written and directed by Jacques Demy and features music by Michel Legrand. It tells the story of two young lovers, Genevieve Emery (Catherine Deneuve) and Guy Foucher (Nino Castelnuovo), whose love is tested when Guy is drafted into the French Military.

     The story follows an incredibly straightforward three act structure. In the first act we're introduced to our main characters Genevieve and her mother (Anne Vernon) who own a struggling umbrella shop, and Guy who works as a mechanic and lives with his ailing aunt Elise (Mireille Perrey). The two young lovers marriage plans are interrupted when Guy is drafted into the military and sent to the war in Algeria. In act two Genevieve learns that she is pregnant and is courted by rich young jeweler named Roland Cassard (Marc Michel). Discouraged by Guy's absence and his infrequent correspondence, she eventually accepts Roland's proposal. In act three Guy returns from the war only to find that Genevieve has married and left Cherbourg. He becomes aimless, losing his job and sleeping with a prostitute. When his aunt dies he finally comes to his senses and decides to rebuild his life with his aunt's caregiver, Madeleine (Ellen Farner).

     I won't spoil the film's denouement, which takes place four years later, but it's simply beautiful. It's simultaneously bittersweet, melancholy, uplifting, and even life-affirming. Ultimately, the film is about young love and how it rarely works out, yet it never feels depressing or jaded. Last year's La La Land owes a lot to this film, both in its tone and story. I wish more modern films would draw inspiration from Demy.

     Michel Legrand's jazzy score perfectly suits the films tone. All of the dialogue is sung as in an opera which, at the time, was a innovation. The actor's voices were dubbed by professional singers, so they all sound quite good. The actors themselves all do a great job, with Anne Vernon being a standout as the shrewd but sensitive Madame Emery. Demy directs the film with real panache, infusing it with a vivid color pallet which, as the story progresses, contrasts with the films growing sense of melancholy. Jean Rabier bright, colorful cinematography enhances the emotional impact of the film and adds to its distinct tone.

     The Umbrellas of Cherbourg is honestly one of the best musicals I've ever seen. It just has this infectious sense of joy. If you don't mind watching a film with subtitles, this is a must see.

Score: 10/10