The Young Girls of Rochefort-1967

Director Jacques Demy

Starring Catherine Deneuve, George Chakiris

Scott’s Review #252

Reviewed June 30, 2015

Grade: B

The Young Girls of Rochefort (Les Demoiselles de Rochefort) is a musical fantasy set in a small French town outside of Paris.

The story focuses on a pair of gorgeous twin sisters, Delphine and Solange, played by real-life sisters Catherine Deneuve and Françoise Dorléac, who yearn to escape their small town for the bright lights of Paris and hope for romance.

The twins can have any man they want, but enjoy the thrill and excitement of conquests and being chased and sought after by seemingly all available French men. They spend their spare time discussing and fretting over various loves.

The film is so French and pure musical fantasy, and logic is not the primary focus. Much of it does not make much sense, in fact, nor does it need to. It is pure fantasy.

The film excels by being dreamlike, bright, and sunny. The vivid, bursting colors and lovely sets enhance the film’s look.

In particular, the coffee shop set is a dream. All the central characters gravitate to the café for drinks, gossip, and song and dance.

A great deal of the action takes place here, which is a significant plus to the film.

The Young Girls of Rochefort, made in 1967, is very state-of-the-art in terms of art direction and color.

The loose plot, which is not at all a reason to watch this film, is silly. The twins, longing for love, meet several men, all possible suitors, but their true motivation is to get out of Rochefort and find genuine excitement in the big city of Paris.

One cannot help but realize that the men are a means to an end for the girls.

The heartfelt part of the story belongs to that of the twins’ mother, Yvonne, who also longs for love. Yvonne runs the café and still pines for a long-lost love whom she jilted because of a funny last name. She now regrets her decision, and the audience is rooting for her to find happiness.

She is a wholesome character, whereas Delphine and Solange are selfish and are attempting to further their careers as musical artists.

My main criticism of the film is casting Gene Kelly as one of the sisters’ love interests. Far too old and well past his prime at this point, the casting doesn’t work. Yes, he is a fantastic dancer, but the age is too great to be believable.

In the end, the main reason to watch The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967) is to escape, let loose, and enjoy a bright, cheery, fantasy film.

Certainly not to be analyzed, the film succeeds in providing good escapist, cultured French fare.

Oscar Nominations: Best Score of a Musical Picture- Original or Adaptation