Interviews: Sautet and Beart

When my editor called to ask if I would be interested in interviewing a French actress who was going to be in the states to promote her film, I said "Possibly, depending on what my schedule is like. " She said, "You may know her, her name is Emmanuelle Béart." I said "She is the Lady-God of French cinema today. One of the most beautiful European women to grace a cinematographers lens."
My editor then said that she'd also like me to interview the film's director, Claude Sautet. I found Mr.Sautet to be an absolute delight to interview. He posessed a wicked wit, and answered all my questions in a thought-provoking manner.

I want to discuss the ending of "Nelly and Monsieur Arnaud" with you. I was gravely disappointed that the two lead characters didn't get together. I guess I am so used to American films like "Pretty Woman" where characters of extreme opposites fall in love and end up riding into the sunset together.

Maybe they can see each other again. But certainly not right away. Maybe. Maybe. It's open.

Part Two?

In the scene when Monsieur Arnaud is watching her sleep in the guest room of his apartment, and she awakens to find him observing her, they strike a kind of nocturnal pact. He realizes he can't ever go farther with her. He is afraid of going farther because of an immediate [degradation] of their relationship due to the ambiguity of their feelings. He's seventy and she's less than half his age. Monsieur Arnaud faces the reality that their relationship can't ever be, it's a fantasy.

Obviously when you get to the end of the script which again has an open ending, there is a certain frustration that occurs. BUT the question you are left with is should they have met or not, and the answer is of course yes.