The film that made Catherine Deneuve a star, in part because every line in the movie is sung. It also has some gorgeous colour - which reminded me of early 60s Cliff Richard and Elvis Presley movies. Critics have loved this - it won first prize at Cannes - which made me suspicious (one never knows with those 60s film buff favourites) but it does work.
The story is simple and very effective: Deneuve and Nino Castelnuovo are young and in love but he has to go off to war (Algeria); she's knocked up and when he doesn't return her letters, mum suggests she marry a rich man; he comes back, goes off the rails, and hooks up with the faithful pretty thing who has long adored him from afar; years later the two lovers meet again.
It's a similar structure to Splendour in the Grass done with lyrics that are simple but occasionally very clever, and some nice tunes. It looks beautiful, with all those primary colours, and was very effective.
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