An umbrella-shop owner’s delicate daughter, glowing with first love for a handsome garage mechanic. Their brief romance is interrupted when he is drafted to serve in the Algerian War. Exquisitely designed in a kaleidoscope of colors, and told entirely through the lilting songs of the great composer Michel Legrand. A film by Jacques Demy, starring Catherine Deneuve, Nino Castelnuovo, Anne Vernon, Marc Michel, Ellen Farner, and Mireille Perrey.
LES PARAPLUIES DE CHERBOURG
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
Jacques Demy
(1964)
In the quaint seaside town of Cherbourg, a charming young mechanic named Guy (Nino Castelnuovo) tends to his aging aunt Élise (Mireille Perrey), the woman who has lovingly nurtured him since childhood. Guy’s heart is passionately captivated by the enchanting Geneviève, despite the disapproval of her discerning mother.
Geneviève (Catherine Deneuve), the daughter of Madame Émery (Anne Vernon), owner of a small umbrella boutique, harbors a secret love for Guy. Their passionate bond remains concealed from her discerning mother.
Geneviève and Guy cherish their shared dreams of marriage and naming their first child Françoise. With a heart filled with anticipation, Geneviève decides to confide in her mother, revealing her desire to wed a man who has captured her heart.
Madame Émery vehemently disapproves of and strongly advises against her daughter’s impetuous desire for marriage. She considers Geneviève to be too young for such a life-altering decision, and the man to be too immature, a mere twenty years of age, has yet to fulfill his military obligation. Meanwhile, Madame Émery’s umbrella business is on the brink of collapse, forcing her to sell her cherished pearl necklace to settle a debt of 80,000 francs.
Madame Émery’s visit to Monsieur Dubourg’s jewelry shop is met with disappointment as he informs her of his inability to purchase her necklace due to his own business struggles. Monsieur Dubourg (Harald Wolff) offers to put the necklace up for sale, but at a significantly lower price than its true value. As fate would have it, a charismatic diamond merchant named Roland Cassard (Marc Michel), who is instantly captivated by the beauty of Madame Émery’s daughter, overhears their conversation and proposes to purchase the necklace. He claims that he could easily sell it in Paris or London, cities he frequently visits for business purposes. Madame Émery invites him to visit her shop the following day. Unfortunately, Roland arrives late and misses the chance to meet Geneviève, who has already left to see Guy.
Inevitably, Guy and Geneviève’s love is tested when Guy receives a draft notice, informing him of his two-year mandatory service in the Algerian War. As the sun sets, they reaffirm their unwavering love for each other in a heartfelt song, “Devant le Garage”. Catherine Deneuve and Nino Castelnuovo captivate audiences with their mesmerizing performances. (Their singing voices are dubbed by Danielle Licari and José Bartel, respectively.)
En musique. En couleurs. En chanté.
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A film by Jacques Demy, starring Catherine Deneuve, Nino Castelnuovo, Anne Vernon, Marc Michel, Ellen Farner, and Mireille Perrey.
The theme song, “Devant le Garage,” is beautifully rendered with Michel Legrand’s enchanting melody and poignant lyrics. The song soared to the top of the charts in France and played a pivotal role in propelling the film and its score to international acclaim. The song’s enduring popularity has inspired numerous covers from many singers, including Nana Mouskouri, Nina Simone, Shirley Bassey, and Barbra Streisand. The song’s universal appeal of love and loss, has led to its translation into various languages, including an English version titled “I Will Wait for You”.
LES PARAPLUIES DE CHERBOURG is an exceptional musical film, masterfully directed and written by Jacques Demy. The film is a visual symphony, each scene crafted with a vibrant color palette. Michel Legrand’s enchanting music seamlessly intertwines with the narrative, transforming every spoken word into a melodious verse, creating an auditory feast for the senses. That ending sticks with you. You’ll probably be thinking about it for days.
The film won the Palme d’Or at the 1964 Cannes Film Festival. The Umbrellas of Cherbourg was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Foreign-Language Film, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Original Score. The film’s main theme, “I Will Wait for You”, was also nominated for Best Original Song.
