Lover for a Day

After a painful breakup with her boyfriend, Jeanne (Esther Garrel) moves in with her father (Éric Caravaca), where it turns out that his current partner (Louise Chevillotte) is the same age as his daughter. Although the situation might seem extremely awkward, all three of them have to work out some rules for living together. In Lover for a Day, Philippe Garrel (the subject of a retrospective at the 15th New Horizons) confirms his reputation as a specialist in intimate dramas. The maker of Wild Innocence also proves that he remains one of the most expressive filmmakers in contemporary cinema. The specifics of Garrel's style can be seen in his demonstrated sensitivity to dialogue. The characters in Lover for a Day are ableto discuss their feelings, philosophy, and politics with equal grace. The poetic nature of the dialogue is a perfect fit for the lyricism of the film's structure. The French film's strong points are, in equal measure, its meticulously composed black-and-white cinematography and Jean-Louis Aubert's discreet, impressionistic music.