Bed and Board (1970)

Bed and Board (Domicile conjugal)
Directed by Francois Truffaut
Written by Francois Truffaut, Claude de Givray, and Bernard Revon
1970/France
IMDb page
Repeat viewing/Criterion Channel

Christine Doinel: Do what you have to do, but let me be. I’m not proud and never have been, so I can tell you: I still love you. But I’d rather not see you anymore.

In the penultimate film of the “Antoine Doinel” cycle, our hero becomes a husband and father.  But will he ever grow up?

Antoine Doinel (Jean-Pierre Leaud) has married Christine, (Claude Jade) his girlfriend from Stolen Kisses (1968).  He works dyeing carnations crazy colors.  She gives violin lessons at home.  Domesticity suits them both and eventually they have a baby boy

Antoine can resist anything except temptation and it arrives in the form of the Japanese wife of a client who sets about seducing him.  This isn’t difficult.  The culture gap gets old fast.  Can Christine ever forgive him?

Antoine continues to be frustratingly cbarming.  He can’t even dye flowers properly!  Jean-Pierre Leaud knows just exactly how to make us fall in love with him.  Claude Jade is adorable and wise at the same time.  This is light as a feather and so fun to watch during Lockdown.