Please note: This was screened in Aug 2019
Set in the insular, ultra-modern Paris suburb of Cergy-Pontoise, Eric Rohmer’s cool, clever comedy of manners concerns a group of young, amorous professionals who harbour mismatched emotions for each other’s significant others.
Shy civil servant Blanche (Emmanuelle Chaulet) escapes the loneliness of her new life in a Parisian suburb through her friendship with self-assured computer programmer Léa (Sophie Renoir). But when Léa goes on holiday, Blanche fancies herself enamoured toward handsome engineer Alexandre (François-Eric Gendron). Unfortunately for Blanche, Alexandre is dating the artistic Adrienne (Anne-Laure Meury), while Lea is seeing Fabien (Eric Viellard). Before long, though, these relationships are subtly shifting, leading to new romantic pairings as Blanche finds herself growing closer to her friend's lover.
Questions of fidelity and betrayal, delusion and deceit lie at the heart of this light, compactly-crafted comedy. Full of miraculously naturalistic performances and a brilliant demonstration of Rohmer's mastery of mood, My Girlfriends’ Boyfriend is funny, moving and full of the kind of emotional insights that other directors can barely dream of. Quite simply, this one’s an absolute charmer.