Watch A Gentle Woman

A Gentle Woman is a French drama film directed by Robert Bresson, released in 1969. The movie tells the story of a young woman who decides to track down the stranger who returned her missing wallet, which leads her into a dark world of sexual obsession and criminality. Dominique Sanda plays the titular character, known only as 'the girl.' She lives in a dingy Parisian suburb, working as a maid in a hotel. Her life is monotonous and lonely until the day she loses her wallet on a bus. When the wallet is returned to her by an anonymous stranger, she becomes obsessed with finding out who he is. Her journey takes her to seedy bars and dark alleys, where she meets a procession of shady characters, each more dangerous than the last.

The film explores themes of isolation, desire, and exploitation in a bleak and uncompromising way. The girl's search for the stranger quickly becomes an obsession, driving her deeper into a world of danger and sordidness. She meets a young man, played by Guy Frangin, who is smitten with her and tries to help her in her quest. But his efforts only lead her further astray, and she becomes a target for a ring of criminals who trade in illicit goods and services.

Jeanne Lobre plays the girl's mother, who is emotionally distant and unsupportive. She has her own secrets and complications, including a fraught relationship with the girl's father, who left them when she was young. The girl's search for the stranger becomes a symbolic substitute for the love and connection she craves from her own family.

Bresson's minimalist style is on full display in A Gentle Woman. The film is shot predominantly in medium and close-up shots, with a spare and economical use of dialogue. The camera lingers on faces and gestures, often avoiding showing the characters in full figure. The effect is to highlight the emotional intensity of the performances, which are all restrained and understated.

The film's climactic sequence is a masterclass in tension and ambiguity. Without giving anything away, it involves a confrontation between the girl and one of the criminals she has become involved with. The scene is filmed in a single take, with the camera trained on Sanda's face for an excruciatingly long time. The effect is both brutal and haunting, leaving the audience unsure of what they have just witnessed.

A Gentle Woman is not an easy film to watch. Its subject matter and style are unrelentingly bleak, and the characters are all flawed and damaged. But it is a powerful and deeply affecting work of art that lingers long in the memory. Sanda's performance is particularly impressive, conveying both vulnerability and strength in equal measure. Bresson's uncompromising vision and mastery of film language make A Gentle Woman a timeless and unforgettable classic.