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French auteur Eric Rohmer directs this adaptation of the 1607 pastoral fantasy by Honore d'Urfe about a lovelorn shepherd in fifth century Gaul. In an enchanted forest, shepherd Celadon (Andy Gillet) and shepherdess Astrea (Stephanie Crayencour) share a pure and chaste love. Fooled by a suitor, Astrea dismisses Celadon, who throws himself into a river out of despair. The heartbroken Astrea - who has now, too late, discovered her suspicions to be false - believes Celadon to be dead, but what she does not know is that Celadon has in fact been saved from death by the water nymphs. Mad with love and despair, coveted by the nymphs and surrounded by rivals, Celadon is obliged to disguise himself as a woman to be near the one he loves.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I often hear people saying that most directors today lack originality. How about this for a piece that is original, involving, and intensely moving? Rohmer's last film is a joy to watch. Who else would create such a fine piece out of such an absurd and seemingly old-fashioned premise? This film feels like a conversation with someone very old, knowledgeable, and profoundly charming, and who is completely devoid of interest in being fashionable and relevant. But, as it often happens, we learn a lot from intelligent people without realising what we learn - just from being with them. So, it is as if Rohmer had taken the viewer, in this movie, into a painting by Poussin or by Claude. The talkative style - with long, declamatory passages on abstract discussions of spiritual and physical love - is entirely consistent with the camerawork, which is as formal as it can possibly be, and in which scenes are composed like visual disquisitions on the relationship between spiritual love and nature.
Someone famously said that watching Rohmer was like watching paint dry. Yes, maybe: if what you want is car chases, convoluted plots with assassinations and wild sexual content, sure, this is going to be as boring as it gets. But if you can allow yourself to follow this movie in what it tries to do, to engage in its rhythms, its contrasts between abstract speculation and physical desire, its almost archaelogical attempt to think in the way that a 17th century mind might have thought, then you may find this to be a treat like few can be.
Someone famously said that watching Rohmer was like watching paint dry. Yes, maybe: if what you want is car chases, convoluted plots with assassinations and wild sexual content, sure, this is going to be as boring as it gets. But if you can allow yourself to follow this movie in what it tries to do, to engage in its rhythms, its contrasts between abstract speculation and physical desire, its almost archaelogical attempt to think in the way that a 17th century mind might have thought, then you may find this to be a treat like few can be.
9 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By P. J. Salisbury
VINE™ VOICE
Format:DVD
I am very fond of Eric Rohmer's films and I have to disagree with the negative reviews. I was delighted to see another film, purportedly Rohmer's last by his own account. I ordered the dvd as soon as it became available and was delighted to find that Rohmer had returned to produce a dreamy, sensuous, languid piece, especially after the more intellectual and esoteric offerings of `The Triple Agent' and `The Lady and the Duke'.
Rohmer always offers something special, whether it is the theatricality of `The Lady and the Duke', the existentialism of The Girl at the Monceau Bakery, the emotional complexity of Pauline at the Beach, the romance of The Green Ray, the intrigue of My Girlfriend's Boyfriend, or the intellectual analysis of youthful emotions in TheTales of The Four Seasons.
Any fan of Rohmer's earlier work should not be disappointed by this whimsical adaptation of a rustic story set in 5th century Gaul. The self-consciousness of the inexperienced actors is in fact most charming. Buy it!
Rohmer always offers something special, whether it is the theatricality of `The Lady and the Duke', the existentialism of The Girl at the Monceau Bakery, the emotional complexity of Pauline at the Beach, the romance of The Green Ray, the intrigue of My Girlfriend's Boyfriend, or the intellectual analysis of youthful emotions in TheTales of The Four Seasons.
Any fan of Rohmer's earlier work should not be disappointed by this whimsical adaptation of a rustic story set in 5th century Gaul. The self-consciousness of the inexperienced actors is in fact most charming. Buy it!
8 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By R. Quaif
Format:DVD
"Astrea and Celadon" is as beautifully realised as anything Rohmer ever did in terms of the staging, the choreographing of the actors' movements in relation to each other, and their placement within natural landscapes; and it revels in the same sly, witty, touching and subtle complexities of attitude, of give-and-take between the characters that distinguished the best of this great director's films for over four decades. The final scene of reconciliation between the lovers, Celadon still disguised as a girl - indeed, wearing Astrea's dress - is not only deeply moving but deliriously erotic too!
Some further observations: (1) When the two women rescue the unconscious Celadon from the riverbank, both fall for him, but haughty Galatea wishes to ensnare him while Leonidas loves him selflessly and seeks only to free him. (2) Taking issue with Celadon's brother Lycidas and his idealised view of commitment and fidelity, Hylas the minstrel praises a promiscuous attitude to love, and his two "groupies" hang onto his arms, and his every word. Next time we see them, at the woodland shrine Celadon has created in honour of Astrea, the girls have clearly tired of him and keep their distance. (3) The speech made by Adamas the druid in the presence of the Roman god statues cleverly conflates elements of theology from four different periods: Ancient Rome, Medieval France, 17th century France (when the original romance was written) ... and the present day! (4) This radiant, understated film repays repeat viewings: all kinds of subtleties become apparent.
Some further observations: (1) When the two women rescue the unconscious Celadon from the riverbank, both fall for him, but haughty Galatea wishes to ensnare him while Leonidas loves him selflessly and seeks only to free him. (2) Taking issue with Celadon's brother Lycidas and his idealised view of commitment and fidelity, Hylas the minstrel praises a promiscuous attitude to love, and his two "groupies" hang onto his arms, and his every word. Next time we see them, at the woodland shrine Celadon has created in honour of Astrea, the girls have clearly tired of him and keep their distance. (3) The speech made by Adamas the druid in the presence of the Roman god statues cleverly conflates elements of theology from four different periods: Ancient Rome, Medieval France, 17th century France (when the original romance was written) ... and the present day! (4) This radiant, understated film repays repeat viewings: all kinds of subtleties become apparent.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
A sweet film...........
beautifully made.... anyone who enjoyed percival or tales of the four seasons would get something from it....
Published on 2 May 2010 by BigKnob88
1.0 out of 5 stars
Boring
Having enjoyed films by Eric Rohmer in the past i tried this one too. i found it utterly boring. a cheap productions with actors that cannot act..
sorry!
sorry!
Published on 9 Mar 2009 by S. TSALAVOUTAS
2.0 out of 5 stars
Dented legend
As a big fan of Rohmer's work I went to see this at an NFT preview but was left badly disappointed. What the synopsis does not mention is that the cast are all amateurs as Rohmer... Read more
Published on 6 Feb 2009 by KJ
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