Bay of Angels (La baie des anges)
Directed by Jacques Demy
Written by Jacques Demy
1963/France
Sud-Pacifique Films
First viewing/Netflix rental
[box] There are many harsh lessons to be learned from the gambling experience, but the harshest one of all is the difference between having Fun and being Smart. Hunter S. Thompson [/box]
Jacques Demy makes a fun film about the intersection between addiction and love.
Jean (Claude Mann) is a staid young bank employee. Â When his colleague Caron buys a flashy new car, he discovers that it is funded by gambling winnings. Â Caron has been forced to sell the car the next day and insists that Jean accompany him to the casino to try to recoup his losses. Â Jean is reluctant but complies. Â He turns 5,000 francs into 400,000 and is hooked.
He now has enough to spend his summer holiday on the Riveria. He meets up with beautiful compulsive gambler Jackie and they begin to win big.
Winnings in Cannes fuel a high-life sojourn at Monte Carlo. Â Their fortunes at gambling and love careen wildly. Â It is clear that Jackie’s real passion is for the roulette table. Â Can love last?
I enjoyed watching this though I never bought into the relationship. Â It was really nice to see real life on the sun-kissed Riviera during the period and Moreau is charming as a platinum blonde playing against type while dressed to the nines in Pierre Cardin fashions. Â The Michel Legrand score is a plus as always.
Restoration Trailer
