A SINGLE GIRL
A film review by Ben Hoffman
Copyright 1997 Ben Hoffman
The movies have always had pretty faces. Not a year passes but that some new and beautiful woman enchants the audience with her presence. This year, the one who bowled me over is 19-years-old Virginie Ledoyen. Although she has been in French films for some 6 years, this was the first time I had seen her. In 1995 she appeared in this current film (just being released in the U.S. now), in La Ceremonie and in Mahjong, a film by Taiwanese director Edward Yang.
Virginie is not of the Hollywood mold. In what may be described as wholesome, intelligent, a delight to behold, Virginie (who in this film is Valerie) has a unique kind of beauty. Her eyes have depth; you can see the wheels turning inside her head; happy and giggling, sad and sizing up a situation, Every emotion comes through that lovely face. Little wonder that she is in every scene in A SINGLE GIRL. Little wonder that the director has the photographer, (Caroline Champetier), slavishly follow her every move, whether sitting at a table in a cafe, strolling briskly through the French city, bringing Room Service meals to the hotel's customers where she works. And almost always, a look of independence on her face. A pretty good trick when you are only nineteen. . . and pregnant.
Valerie is in a cafe talking over a cup of coffee to her unemployed boyfriend, Remi (Benoit Magimel). She is waiting for the right moment to tell him she is one month pregnant and does he have any thoughts about the new situation. He really does not; he is surprised, of course, but speaks in generalities.
Employed as a waitress who serves the Four Star hotel's guests when they ring for room service, she encounters some odd ones; those who offer to pay for her sexual services, those who are freaky in other respects. There is also the hotel's manager who would like to get at her (as he doing with another employee). Valerie wards them all off, accepting her situation with stoic equanimity. In short, she is a person of exceptional character. Her experiences enable her to determine what she will do about the baby she is bearing. Looking at that face, you know that whatever decision she makes, it will be the right one.
In French with English subtitles.
Directed by Benoit Jacquot.
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Ben Hoffman
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