Conte d’automne (Autumn Tale)

In the fourth and final instalment of Tales of the Four Seasons, Rohmer – then aged 78 – turns his attention to the romantic entanglements of adults. The heroine, Magali (Béatrice Romand), is a 45-year-old widow and winegrower who is left alone in the Ardèche after her children have moved away. She longs for a new love, but is reluctant to take the initiative herself. Two friends therefore decide to secretly find her a partner, leading to misunderstandings and unexpected complications. Rohmer does not turn this simple premise into a classic vaudeville, but rather into a refined marivaudage full of irony, subtle humour and moral observation. His characters discover that people rarely act as they predict. As always, he links the mundane with the romantic: great emotions unfold in everyday circumstances. Rohmer captures the autumnal landscapes of the Rhône Valley with his characteristic precision.