Movie Review: The Umbrellas of Cherbourg

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
(DVD Umbrellas)

Stunning and vivid and beautiful, and also kind of crazy, I can see why this movie, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) would be on Greta Gerwig’s “Required Reading List” for the actors in the upcoming (Summer 2023) Barbie movie.

 

The backgrounds of every scene are lush with color. There’s the vibrant pink striped walls and black cabinets of the umbrella shop, the bold pink roses on bright blue of Genevieve’s bedroom, brilliant blue and green stripe of Guy’s home, and the orange of the cafe/bar where they go to enjoy a drink. Each scene is punctuated by saturated color. Instead of washing out in the face of all the intensity, the actors shine in equally vibrant costuming and colors.

 

This movie, which stars the blonde and perfect Catherine Deneuve and the dark haired and handsome Nino Castelnuovo as young star-crossed lovers, is a feast for the senses. Genevieve, who works in her mother’s umbrella shop worries that her mother thinks she is too young for love so she sneaks out to see her beau, Guy, a talented mechanic.

 

Classic antics ensue, miscues and missed appointments, a mother with debt trouble, an aunt who is bedridden, somebody gets drafted, someone gets married . . .

 

Did I mention there’s singing? And it’s in French? <3 <3 <3

 

For those who like this kind of stuff, this is definitely the kind of stuff they’ll like.

 

(If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try  La La Land (nods to the visuals of Jacques Demy), Swinging Mademoiselles: Groovy French sounds from the 60s or Dressing Barbie.)

 

( Internet Movie Database entry for this film )

 

Recommended by Carrie K.
Bennett Martin Public Library — Public Service

 

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide Blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewer’s recommendations!

AnnaBelle, You Did What? An Epic Tale

AnnaBelle, You Did What? An Epic Tale
by Don Darnell [793.33 Dar]

I've met Don Darnell and enjoyed his company as a library customer several times, and enjoyed his descriptions of writing this book. Enough so that I decided to read it. I'm glad I did! AnnaBelle, You Did What? is a marvelously entertaining personal memoir, with a specific focus. Don explores his experiences learning to dance with his beloved wife, AnnaBelle, starting in their fifties. For anyone who has spent time at the PlaMor Ballroom, enjoying big band music, and wishing they had the skills and gumption to be out on the floor twirling around without embarrassing themselves. Don's writing style is light, and full of wonderful self-deprecating observations. The local nature of the events in the books should connect well with Lincoln readers, especially those with a few years under their belts. And on top of everything else, this is a passionate love story. For anyone who's watched the classical dances on Dancing With the Stars and wistfully wished they could take part, this book provides a glimpse of how enjoyable the world of amateur dancing can be. I also loved the reminiscing about the Big Band era musicians, such as the Bobby Layne Orchestra. Quite an enjoyable read. Congrats, Don! -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library


[ official PlaMor Ballroom web site ]

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.