Bonjour Tristesse (1958)

Bonjour Tristesse (1958)

“She’s changed him; she’ll change me — she’ll change everything!”

Synopsis:
While spending the summer on the French Riviera, a spoiled, hedonistic teenager (Jean Seberg) plots to keep her beloved playboy father (David Niven) away from his controlling bride-to-be (Deborah Kerr).

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

  • Coming of Age
  • David Niven Films
  • Deborah Kerr Films
  • Father and Child
  • Flashback Films
  • Jealousy
  • Jean Seberg Films
  • Love Triangle
  • Otto Preminger Films

Review:
Bonjour Tristesse, based on the bestselling novel by 18-year-old Francoise Sagan, received scathing reviews upon its release: “Almost everything about this picture, which opened at the Capitol yesterday, manifests bad taste, poor judgment and plain deficiency of skill”, pronounced Bosley Crowther of the NY Times. Director Otto Preminger had brought back the star of his previous film (the poorly received Saint Joan, 1957) and cast her in the central role of Cecile: a willful, spoiled young woman who finds her carefree summer threatened by the arrival of an unwanted maternal figure. It’s an odd story — not entirely successful, yet somehow riveting, and not nearly as awful as Crowther’s review suggests; we watch with the uneasy knowledge that a train wreck is about to happen, yet recognize it as the inevitable fallout of adolescent callowness.

Unfortunately, young Seberg hadn’t yet discovered her acting chops; her delivery of lines is stilted at best, and the obvious post-dubbing doesn’t help matters any. Yet she exudes charm and youthful beauty, and remains compelling to watch. Her character’s close relationship with Niven (nicely cast against type) reminds one of Gidget and her widowed father, though with a decidedly sensual tinge; Cecile is remarkably comfortable with the explicit knowledge of her father’s summertime affair with the sexy yet safely innocuous Elsa (Mylene Demongeot). Also impressive is Deborah Kerr in a thankless yet pivotal role as Cecile’s godmother — a ruinous presence in Cecil’s idyllic existence.

Other than Seberg and Kerr, the most memorable elements of the film are the gorgeous Technicolor visuals and sun-drenched French Riviera settings — this is very much a summertime film, with events compressed into the span of one tragically memorable vacation. The closing shot — reminiscent of Glenn Close in Dangerous Liaisons — makes for a daringly downbeat finale in an era of mostly cheerful denouements; in a way, it’s easy to see why modern critics (such as Eric Henderson at Slant Magazine) cite Bonjour Tristesse as a film waiting to be reclaimed: like Douglas Sirk, Preminger is now viewed by many as an auteur whose talents remained largely misunderstood during his lifetime.

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:

  • Saul Bass’s opening titles
  • Jean Seberg as Cecile — not a great actress, but exuding abundant charm and attractiveness
  • David Niven as Cecile’s carefree dad
  • Deborah Kerr as Anne
  • Striking Technicolor cinematography
  • A compelling “love triangle” between father, daughter, and stepmom-to-be
  • Gorgeous settings in the French Riviera

No, but it’s recommended.

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One thought on “Bonjour Tristesse (1958)

  1. Not a must.

    Ah, the ennui of the dissatisfied – and wealthy! – and living on the French Riviera!

    Though it seems Crowley had other issues besides the film when he reviewed it, I don’t think much of it myself. I certainly don’t think it has any cult value – nor do I understand why it needs to be “reclaimed”. I’ve often thought Preminger did interesting work but, unfortunately, I have to add this to his batch of misfires. The film leaves me completely cold – and, yes, that may be the point; but the exploration of these lives ultimately doesn’t seem to serve any real enlightening purpose.

    The people who populate this film are so pretentious and tiresome (oddly, Seberg – who, looks aside, is kind of annoying from the get-go, applauds Niven choosing Elsa because she’s “not pretentious”!) and I rather regret spending time following them. (There is also the ‘innocent’ Philippe – hand-picked by screenwriter Laurents? – but his presence is rather inconsequential; besides, he’s seriously interested in Seberg, so…)

    Speaking of the screenplay, it often seems awkward; Laurents has people saying things (unless they’re taken from the novel) which seem to fall uncomfortably from the actors’ mouths. All too rarely is there a real spot-on gem: i.e.,

    Niven: I’ll show you the way, Anne.
    Kerr: I can see the way, Raymond – straight down.

    Re: Kerr…I don’t think her role is thankless. I’m sure she welcomed the opportunity to get away from being cast yet again as someone more or less ‘virginal’. It is – admittedly – somewhat interesting to watch her, 2/3-through, rearing her ugly head as Anne. (She is also subtly terrifying when she puts on ‘the grand facade’ to meet Elsa.)

    The beauty of the scenery serves to further point up the dullness of the storyline.

    Gee – guess I really don’t like this one. Quelle dommage!

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