Jules et Jim

A movie directed by François Truffaut in 1962. The movie is about three friends; Jules played by Oscar Werner; Catherine played by Jeanne Moreau and Jim played by Henri Serre. Jules and Jim meet in 1912 in Paris and instantly become friends: although completely opposite they share similar likings. Jim a success with the ladies oftentimes helps his pal Jules out. However, Jules is not as successful. This all changes when he meets the beautiful and mysterious Catherine.

Afraid Jim might steal Catherine Jules makes it clear that he is in love with her. The three of them hang out and enjoy one another’s company at Catherine seashore home. Upon returning Jules asks Catherine to marry him. However Catherine cannot make up her mind. The next day she asks Jim to meet him at a café but she shows up late and misses Jim. The next day Jules and Catherine announce their engagement.

It is 1914 and War World 1 broke out; both Jim and Jules are forced to fight. Jules a German and Jim a Frenchman live in fear of killing one another.  After the war Jules continues his life with Catherine and their daughter Sabine in their chalet in Germany. However Jules admits to Jim their marriage is on the rocks. Catherine has had multiple affairs and threatens to leave Jules. Jules upset and distraught allows for his wife to marry Albert, her lover, as long as he can stay in contact with her. After a weekend spent together, Jules becomes quite aware of Jim and Catherine’s love for one another. Catherine and Jim begin to see each other and try for a baby. After many unsuccessful attempts Catherine sends Jim away. Jim returns home to his lover Gilberte and in turn starts a family with her. Catherine announces she is carrying his baby but later has a miscarriage.

The three of them meet for one last time in a Parisian cinema. Catherine offers the two a ride to a café. However she encourages Jim to stay in the car and for Jules to watch. She in turn drives onto an old bridge and plunges off into the water—killing both Jim and herself.  The movie ends with Jules attending both their funeral and cremations.

400 Blows

400 Blows another film directed by François Truffaut takes place in 1959. The film is said to be a biographical depiction of Truffaut’s own childhood. When casting for the film, Truffaut immediately picked a thirteen-year-old boy by the name of Antoine Doinel. He was the perfect representation of himself as a kid. In the movie, the kid is shown misbehaving at school, home, and with his friends. After a number of times of getting in trouble Antoine is sent to a juvenile delinquent facility and later runs away. The movie closes with a shot of Antoine alone standing on the beach. He has finally escaped from everyone and everything that has caused him pain in his past.

La règle du jeu

A movie produced in 1939 by director Jean Renoir tells a story of a famous aviator Andre Jurieux and his lover Christine, the wife of aristocrat Robert de la Cheyniest. When a series of love affairs are uncovered chaos breaks out. Renoir reveals to his audience what boundaries people will cross for love. Upsetting yet exciting the movie ends in a tragedy proving the point that love isn’t something to take for granite.