Une Parisienne (1957)

 Michel Boisrond's "The Parisian"


I scoured the far reaches of the internet to find a French film that was released in 1957 of any sort of lasting note. It was a very difficult feat, as there were few films that had any sort of lasting impact. One film, however, made a splash. Michel Boisrand's "Une Parisienne" for selling its distribution rights to the U.S. for a then-record $550,000. No foreign film in the U.S. at that time had ever cost so much to distribute. The reason for this record-setting sell was due to the film's star, Brigitte Bardot, and her newly emerging iconography as France's sex symbol.

"Une Parisienne" centers on a newlywed couple forced into their marriage after a miscommunication. To rebel against her uncaring husband, Brigitte Bardot's Brigitte spends time with a prince. When the husband finally becomes jealous, Brigitte feels like she has won him back.

I didn't find the plot or execution of said plot at all interesting. That being said, "Une Parisienne" is a comedy. It is not to be taken too seriously. There weren't any larger themes at play, there weren't any philosophical revelations, and there weren't any explorations into the human soul or societal issues. The whole point of the film is to demonstrate the pure sexuality of Bardot. Beyond that, it was very mildly funny.



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