Watch Bay of Angels

Bay of Angels is a French New Wave film released in 1963 that delves into the themes of love, addiction, and gambling. The film is directed by Jacques Demy and stars Jeanne Moreau, Claude Mann, and Paul Guers in the lead roles. The story revolves around a young woman named Jeanne (Jeanne Moreau) who is addicted to gambling. She travels to Nice to try her luck at the casino and meets a young man named Antoine (Claude Mann) who is also a compulsive gambler. The two soon become romantically involved and continue to feed their addiction by gambling together.

Despite their passionate liaison, they both continue to bet larger sums of money on roulette and other games of chance. They seem to take winning and losing equally and just keep on betting, which ultimately leads to tragedy. With the arrival of a wealthy client, Jackie (Paul Guers), Jeanne also becomes embroiled in an illicit love affair, where she is forced to choose between love and gambling.

The film's crisp monochrome cinematography captures the unique sense of place that the French Riviera offers. From the lush beaches to the elaborate casino interiors, it does an excellent job of showcasing the glamour that the region is known for. The music by Michel Legrand makes the experience even more immersive and elevates the emotions of the protagonists.

Jeanne Moreau delivers an outstanding performance as the flawed heroine struggling with a dual-sided addiction to gambling and love. Her character reveals a simmering sense of vulnerability and a palpable feeling of guilt. Her hedonistic streak helps to mask the emptiness of her life, but this desire leads her further down a dangerous path.

Claude Mann, on the other hand, is remarkable in the role of Antoine. A young man who falls hopelessly in love with Jeanne, he is also fighting his own demons of compulsion and emotional emptiness. He provides the audience with a sympathetic portrayal, where they can empathize and understand his motivations.

Finally, Paul Guers's character Jackie offers an intriguing narrative twist in the film's second half. A wealthy client who falls in love with Jeanne, his presence adds an extra layer of tension to the already fraught situation between Jeanne and Antoine.

Overall, Bay of Angels is an engaging New Wave masterpiece. It delivers a realistic portrayal of the highs and lows of gambling addiction and showcases an honest depiction of romantic love. Jacques Demy's masterful direction, along with Legrand's and Moreau's exceptional work, should put this film high on any art movie lovers' must-watch list.