Daddy Nostalgie (1990)

Director:

Bertrand Tavernier

Writers:

Colo Tavernier (story)
Colo Tavernier (dialogue) ...

Release Date:

May 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

The setting is the Riviera in autumn. A retired English businessman has just been through heart surgery but it has...

Plot Keywords:

English | Father Daughter Relationship | French Riviera

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Dirk Bogarde	...	Daddy
Jane Birkin	...	Caroline
Odette Laure	...	Miche
Emmanuelle Bataille	...	Juliette
Charlotte Kady	...	Barbara
Michele Minns	...	Caroline, as a child
Sophie Dalezio	...	Nurse #1
Sylvie Segalas	...	Nurse #2
Hélène Lefumat	...	Dame Hopital
Andrée Duranson	...	Yvonne
Raymond Defendente	...	Jimmy
Fabrice Roux	...	Fisherman
Gilbert Guerrero	...	Garcon Restaurant
Louis Ducreux	...	Mr. Metro

Also Known As:

Daddy Nostalgia (USA)
These Foolish Things

Runtime:

USA:105 min

Country:

France

Language:

French | English

Colour:

Colour (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:PG | Germany:12

Filming Locations:

France

Company:

Cléa Productions

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Cinemania (2002)

Soundtrack:

These Foolish Things

Delicate limning of death

This touching film bears up to repeated viewings for its subtlety and insight. I agree with all of the comments discussed by the two previous reviewers, Victoria and Les Halles.

By focussing on the "non-action" of daily life and daily conversation, Tavernier appears to present a nothing of a film, but in reality has captured something valuable and ephemeral -- the silent dialogue between a husband and wife after a long marriage and the discovery of love between a father and daughter, all of whom have to deal in their own way with his impending death.

The use as a coda of the haunting song "These foolish things remind me of you" as sung by Jane Birkin in her breathless voice has never been more apt. It should be noted from the credits that Tavernier dedicated this film to another cinema genius Michael Powell (of the team Powell & Pressberger). Like Powell, Dirk Bogarde, both in the film and in real life, was very English, but cosmopolitan in intellect and cultural tastes. These characteristics are brought out in Bogarde's portrayal and in Birkin's flashbacks of her early remembrances. The acting and inter-action of the three principals, Bogarde, Birkin and Laure, is so subtle as to not appear as such, again a tribute to their experience and rapport with the director.

For someone who has faced the recent death of a loved one, this film rings true, and the refrain from the song takes on a new dimension, not intended by the original lyricist.

*****Five stars for hitting its emotional target..