Rendezvous in Paris (1995)

76% of critics liked it
(17 reviews)
66% of users liked it
(466 ratings)

Chance meetings provide the central theme for this Parisian film comprised of three loosely related episodes. The first, "Le Rendez-vous de 7 heures," centers on Esther, who tries to make her womanizing boyfriend jealous by finding her own new lover. She finds a likely candidate in a Montmartre… More Chance meetings provide the central theme for this Parisian film comprised of three loosely related episodes. The first, "Le Rendez-vous de 7 heures," centers on Esther, who tries to make her womanizing boyfriend jealous by finding her own new lover. She finds a likely candidate in a Montmartre market; they begin talking and agree to meet at the Beaubourg cafe that night. There, he steals her wallet. Later a stranger returns it. The stranger mentions that she must go to the Beaubourg to meet her ex-lover. Esther accompanies her and gets a big surprise. In the second episode, "Les Blancs de Paris," two would-be lovers hold a series of conversations in various Paris locales. The problem is that she is trying to find the courage to leave her fiancé. The new man, a young professor, asks her to move in with him. Instead, they end up planning to spend three days in a Montmartre hotel while her fiancé is out of town. There the woman meets with an unfortunate coincidence. In the last vignette, "Mere et enfant 1907," an artist and his Swedish lady friend go to an art gallery. There the painter sees a young woman admiring Picasso's 1907 canvas Mother and Child. He then abandons his friend and takes off after the woman through the winding streets. Eventually, he ends up at her studio where he meets with disappointment. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 35 min.
Directed By: Eric Rohmer
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Aug 9, 1996 Wide
On DVD: Jun 8, 1997

Critic Reviews

Jeff Millar, Houston Chronicle
There are bits of the three-episode Rendezvous in Paris that are, if not like watching paint dry, like watching the painter spackle the picture-hook holes and edge around the windows.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
As with many of his other films, Rohmer proves that social intercourse can be as delightful as the sexual variety.
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
Somehow Rohmer keeps it fresh, if only because, after more than 30 years of making the same movie, there can be no doubt he's sincere.
Laura Miller, Salon.com
Rohmer proves that sometimes shriveled fruit yields the strongest juice, provided you squeeze hard enough.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
One of the best of his works.
Janet Maslin, New York Times
Precise, simple and deeply serious beneath their breezy and seductive surface, these stories enchantingly explore love's little treacheries and the stubborn immutability of human nature.
John Esther, Pasadena Weekly
Time for Rohmer to retire.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Three enchanting vignettes on the tricky role of coincidence in romantic relationships
Alex Albanese, Boxoffice Magazine
Each vignette is fine, as far as it goes, but none go very far.
Jamie Russell, BBC
It's a film that stands as one of the New Wave director's most enjoyable, and a beautifully frank take on the highs and lows of that foolish little thing called love.
Steve Rhodes, Internet Reviews
The actors are mainly a bunch of unknowns, but all deliver strong performances. Their screen presence is incredible, and the camera is love with them.
Russell Smith, Austin Chronicle
As inspiring as his faith in the written word may be, and as elegantly written as his characters' long verbal encounters often are, it's hard not to wish for a few transcendent images to burn them into our memory.
Jeff Vice, Deseret News, Salt Lake City
Besides the wonderful scripting, there are quite a few winning performances, especially from Bellar, who's utterly charming in both her vulnerability and optimism, and Rauscher, an acting newcomer.
Barbara Shulgasser, San Francisco Examiner
What a wonderful world. Sure, people cheat on each other. But they also act honorably and speak honestly and admit the darkest secrets about themselves. This sort of movie might bore you to tears, but it also might be just what you've longed for.

Read all 14 critic reviews

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Cast

Clara Bellar
as Esther
Serge Renko
as Him
Antoine Basler
as Horace

Bénédicte Loyen
as Young Woman
Cecille Pares
as Hermione
Malcolm Conrath
as Felix

See full cast

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