French Postcards
When scrolling late at night through a streaming service you often come across sections marked “Classics” or “Popular”, these well-known movies are often at the forefront and generate many of the views. But the beauty of these sites is when you continue scrolling for far too long and come across hidden gems. French Postcards is one of these gems. It’s a fun, comical, and lighthearted coming of age movie that at times teeters on being so odd, that the main reason for me writing this post is on the off chance anyone reads this, they can watch it to make sure it’s actually something that exists and wasn’t just an late-night fever dream. Released in 1979 and directed Willard Huyck (as well as written by him and his wife Gloria Katz, co-writers of the classic American Graffiti), it may be easy to overlook as it doesn’t have any of the marquee names most would be accustomed to seeing on a screen. But what it does have are the quirky pieces that make it a great late night find.
It starts off with a ordinary premise of A group of American students traveling to France to study for a year. The main characters quickly fall in love with French women, one such character, Alex (David Marshall Grant) falls in love with an older woman, his beautiful (but married) professor, Madame Tessier (Marie-France Pisier). As him and his friend Joel (Miles Chapin) navigate their immersive experience, they fight through their angst and indecisiveness with bold plans and grand dreams. There is a heartfelt level of authenticity in this film, which was buoyed by the use of actual students as extras in the film. But the authenticity of the streets, cafes, cars, and apartments, give the feeling that your traveling along with them.
The narrative is not plot driven, rather just the passage of time and maturation that a year of travel can provide. For one student, Laura (Blanche Baker), her time is spent mostly at museums and alone writing postcards to her boyfriend. This film feels like 4 or 5 different films fit into one, perhaps that was intentional, for dealing with a movie about traveling, it’s apt to understand that plans can always change. But this also allows the weirdness to take over about a third of the way through. A scene where Alex acts as a voyeur while watching Madame Tessier change in a store, before ending up in a hot tub with her shortly after. To Joel acting as his best wingman to deter her husband from returning home to uncover their tryst, while the husband adamantly tries getting Joel to a doctor because he is on “dope”. But by far the oddest point of the film, was the introduction of an Iranian “Travel Agent” Manny, (played by Mandy Patinkin of later Princess Bride fame) who escorts Laura to a Medieval festival, and after a nightmarish attempted assault and near accidental murder, Laura escapes to find herself alone in the rain of a Medieval decorated town.
A few strange interactions aside, there is a touching message in the wrap up of the film, and one that all wanderlusting young people can attest to feeling. Their quests of love all but squashed, and invigorated by their experience, Alex and Joel set out to extend their trip for a full European backpacking tour. After mapping out the plan and stepping onto the train, the two hemispheres of a travelers brain are represented, with Alex harboring the free-spirited, carefree, mindset. Money? They’ll figure it out. Job? they’ll worry about it later. But Joel, retreats to his true self; a timid, inside the box, but realistic young man. Realizing his parents will find out, and realizing that the real world will be waiting when he returns, he reluctantly steps off the train. Leaving an unsurprised Alex, alone to fend off adulthood for as long as he can.
Watching this movie is a lot like traveling itself, there’s excitement and confusion, at times a lot happens, and at other points you just drift along down a city street. It serves as an interesting timecapsule to look back on with it’s late 70s Paris setting, and many of it’s elements will be recognizable to anyone who has spent a semester abroad. It is entertaining and a fun distraction But like many trips, sometimes you just had to be there, and to best articulate the intrigue of this film; sometimes you just have to see it for yourself.
Directed by: Willard Huyck
Starring: Miles Chapin, Blanche Bake, David Marshall Grant,
Runtime: 95 minutes Year Released: 1979