The Aviator's Wife

The Aviator's Wife
by Eric Rohmer

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Movie Reviews of The Aviator's Wife

Movie Review: The Aviator's "Woman" . . .
Summary: 5 Stars

But assuming the English title appropriate, and maybe it is, who is the aviator's wife? If you watch closely, you may come away wondering if the pilot is even married.

We should also dispel a couple of other notions in the various reviews. It is a French "talkie." I happen to like them. It's not completely accurate to say it is about an obsession with an older woman. There is obvious consideration of the younger one at a certain point. It's certainly inaccurate to say the younger one represents the real possibility if one watches all the way to the end, past the aborted letter drop. And by the way, look at that guy closely. He is not a stranger.

Anne does not agree with Lucie entirely that "women decide." It can't be said that these two women are educating Francois. It can't be said that he loses either of them, actually. Although, everyone who thinks they just must talk things through at the earliest opportunity would do well to see how he makes his life more difficult than it need be with this strategy.

I think the movie really is about Anne, the pilot's girlfriend, whose picture appears on the cover. She is the one who is despondent and ready to give up on relationships because she finds no one's feelings true and faithful. And there is one further intriguing argument for this view.

Eric Rohmer is noted for making cycles of movies... the comedies and proverbs, the four seasons, etc. In each cycle, the movies are not related per se, not like a series. But would it surprise anyone if this plotter of cycles hid a series among his cycles? If he did so blatantly, it would be uncharacteristic of the always enigmatic Rohmer. But what if he simply used the same actress, with a different character name, yet to represent the same character at different stages of life?

Marie Riviere (Anne in this movie) appears to be just such a character. As Delphine in "Summer" does she not begin where Anne leaves off, disenchanted with all relationships? Finally healed by the magical Green Ray, she re-incarnates as Isabel in "Autumn's Tale," as the master matchmaker peddling her happiness to others, even training an apprentiss of sorts. If you can view these three movies and not come to this conclusion, do drop me a note and set me straight.

Ah, but with the prospects ahead of a 15 year old detective who suggests murder, a magical green ray, and a master matchmaker, how can you resist all three?