(1958; b/w, French) Early Eric Rohmer half-hour short observes a high-school girl Véronique tutoring a boy in school assignments - dividing fractions (by multiplying the first fraction by the second fraction's reciprocal, though she can't explain why) and composing a two-page composition (trying to stimulate a topic by asking him what he did Saturday morning).

The scene at a table in the boy's home appears natural, realistic - unscripted or unrehearsed - subtly humorous (slipping off her shoe, she then has difficulty retrieving it) in that the young woman lacks more than a rudimentary understanding of how to guide the child, who acts mildly uncooperative (repeatedly saying he doesn't know), through his tasks.

By the conclusion of the session, both are eager to get away without having completed the schoolwork.

Click here for links to places to buy or rent this movie in video and/or DVD format, or to buy the soundtrack, posters, books, even used videos, games, electronics and lots of other stuff. I suggest you shop at least two of these places before buying anything. Prices seem to vary continuously. For more information on this film, click on this link to The Internet Movie Database. Type in the name of the movie in the search box and press enter. You will be able to find background information on the film, the actors, and links to much more information.

Copyright © 2008 Patrick Ivers. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.

Patrick Ivers can be reached via e-mail at .