Claire's Knee (1970)

Director: Eric Rohmer
Stars: Jean-Claude Brialy, Aurora Cornu, Béatrice Romand
Runtime: 105 minutes

Synopsis: On lakeside summer holiday, a conflicted older man is dared to have a flirt with two beautiful teenage stepsisters despite his betrothal to a diplomat's daughter and the fact that the girls have boyfriends.

Verdict: Oh to be on vacation in a small European village during the 1970s! Set in a gorgeous setting that will make you daydream of clear lakes and green mountains, “Claire’s Knee” is a brilliant little gem of a movie that relies entirely on the dynamic of its characters to function.

We follow an engaged-to-be-married Jérôme’s encounter with Aurora, a writer and old friend of his, who proceeds to dare him to get into flirtatious discussions with two teenage step-sisters so she can get the inspiration she needs to finish her latest novel. What follows are somewhat uncomfortable but certainly engaging conversations about love, desire, and happiness presented by two vastly different perspectives: those of a middle-aged man and a young adolescent girl.

"Claire's Knee" is the type of movie you develop a small crush on. It's the equivalent of a summer fling you look back fondly upon, the memory of a holiday you never had but somehow have ingrained in your brain. I understand that it may not be everyone's cup of refreshing fruit salad but if it is, I strongly suggest you give it a shot.

FINAL GRADE: 8/10