Claire's Knee (Le genou de Claire) (1970)

95% of critics liked it
(19 reviews)
82% of users liked it
(3,018 ratings)

The fifth of Eric Rohmer's "Six Moral Tales," Claire's Knee is a deliciously Rohmeresque story of sexual obsession. French diplomat Jerome (Jean-Claude Brialy), on a resort vacation, meets Claire (Laurence De Monaghan), the teen-aged daughter of a friend. Though engaged to be… More The fifth of Eric Rohmer's "Six Moral Tales," Claire's Knee is a deliciously Rohmeresque story of sexual obsession. French diplomat Jerome (Jean-Claude Brialy), on a resort vacation, meets Claire (Laurence De Monaghan), the teen-aged daughter of a friend. Though engaged to be married, Jerome falls hopelessly in love -- not with Claire, but with Claire's knee. Realizing that to be revealed as a fetishist would be ruinous for him, Jerome does not act upon his obsession. Eventually he gets to fulfill his yearnings by placing his hand upon Claire's knee, a gesture which she assumes is out of sympathy for a personal crisis she is going through. Originally released as Le Genou de Claire, this film was the recipient of the Prix Louis Delluc and the Prix Melies. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Directed By: Eric Rohmer
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Feb 21, 1971 Wide
Studio: Media Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

, Time Out
The film was rapturously received as a cinematic equivalent to Jane Austen at the time of its original release.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Claire's Knee is a movie for people who still read good novels, care about good films, and think occasionally.
Vincent Canby, New York Times
Comes very close to being a perfect movie of its kind.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
The penultimate entry in Eric Rohmer's series of Six Moral Tales, and the loveliest, most crystalline of the lot.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Rohmer's playful work is both witty and observant.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Despite their constant chatter, the characters come alive without seeming too intellectual or too removed.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
One of Rohmer's greatest expressions of male-female relationships.
Jeffrey Overstreet, Looking Closer
The question at the center of this almost Shakespearean comedy is this: Why is it better to listen to our conscience in matters of love, rather than listen to our wayward, faithless heart?
, Film4
Touching and funny.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
Somewhere between insulting and repulsive, Claire's Knee purports to be about love but comes across as little more than infantile.
Marjorie Baumgarten, Austin Chronicle
Perhaps the director's best-known and best-liked film.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, San Francisco Examiner
A masterpiece.
Kevin N. Laforest, Montreal Film Journal
There isn't much plot, just a lot of humanity and intelligence.

Read all 13 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Steven C

Eric Rohmer. I get it, I like his sensibilities, and I think he is an important filmmaker. But "Claire's Knee" is just grueling for me. I found nothing to latch onto. I though the way the characters spoke was the farthest thing from reality. I also don't mind slow… More
Eric Rohmer. I get it, I like his sensibilities, and I think he is an important filmmaker. But "Claire's Knee" is just grueling for me. I found nothing to latch onto. I though the way the characters spoke was the farthest thing from reality. I also don't mind slow films, but this was slow for almost no reason. I know people will jump to disagree with me, but the story, while simple, could have used just a tad bit of flare- at least from the actors. I don't know, nothing about the film struck me as engaging or emotional. I understood the message perfectly fine, but to make it meaningful I needed a touchstone of some sort and it was sorely missing.
Anthony L

A beautiful realisation of love and desire from several peoples view points, this is a very touching (excuse the pun) film, although it may seem like the tale of a dirty old man trying to grope a young girls leg it?s really not.
Megan S

It was okay. I fell asleep watching it once and had to finish it a different day. It was sorta like a French "Lolita" without the sex, and much less interesting.
Dimitris S

Extremely poetic,disturbing to the sense of tripping controversies,aye,we do realize censorship committees the judgmental issue of age difference and there is passion between....almost all in this film.It remains a gem of spiritual liberty though and you better get some immorality… More
Extremely poetic,disturbing to the sense of tripping controversies,aye,we do realize censorship committees the judgmental issue of age difference and there is passion between....almost all in this film.It remains a gem of spiritual liberty though and you better get some immorality lesson.

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Cast

Jean-Claude Brialy
as Jerome
Aurora Cornu
as Aurora
Béatrice Romand
as Laura
Laurence de Monaghan
as Claire
Fabrice Luchini
as Vincent
Gerard Falconetti
as Gilles
Michèle Montel
as Mme. Walter

See more (7)

Claire's Knee (Le genou de Claire) (1970)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Steven C

Anthony L

Megan S

Dimitris S

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