A Summer's Tale

Gaspard, a graduate student vacationing at a seaside resort, feels "like a bum who wakes up a millionaire." And no wonder: three different women have agreed to go away with him for a romantic weekend. But he must choose which one: Lena, his noncommittal girlfriend; Solene, a saucy party girl; or Margot, an ethnologist working as a waitress. Since this is an Eric Rohmer film (the third in his "Four Seasons" series), the talk outweighs the action by a ratio of about 1:0. But those on Rohmer's wavelength will find this a charming human comedy, blissfully unhurried and unforced. Gaspard's moral quandary is certainly universal; in fact, steel-trap minded Brady Bunch viewers will recall that Marcia Brady had a similar dilemma. Recommended. (K. Lee Benson)[DVD Review—Nov. 18, 2014—Big World Pictures, 114 min., in French w/English subtitles, not rated, $29.95—Making its second appearance on DVD, 1996's A Summer's Tale features a great new high-definition restoration transfer, and extras including trailers. Bottom line: this charming Rohmer classic looks sharp in its new HD restoration.]