'Embryonic': Lost Novel by French Film-Maker Éric Rohmer is Republished
English translation of Élisabeth, the New Wave director’s 1946 book about young lovers in prewar Paris, receives rave reviews as precursor to auteur’s cinematic work
TL;DR
- Élisabeth, a novel by Éric Rohmer written during WWII, has been republished in an English translation.
- The book, initially a failure, is now praised as a modernist classic and a crucial origin story for Rohmer's films.
- It explores themes of young lovers and desire in prewar France, foreshadowing Rohmer's later cinematic preoccupations.
- Rohmer, a key figure in the French New Wave, shifted from literature to filmmaking after his novel's poor reception.
- Critics note that Élisabeth contains 'Rohmerian moments' and explores the human behavior and unpredictable natures that characterized his films.
- Rohmer's filmmaking style, particularly his use of improvisation and small crews, contributed to the spontaneity and freshness of his work.
- Rohmer maintained a private personal life, often concealing his filmmaking career from his mother.
- The novel is considered the literary ancestor of Rohmer's arthouse filmography, showcasing his consistent focus on themes of friendship, love affairs, and games of desire.