Le Soupirant (The Suitor) Review- By Michael Carlisle

Title: Le Soupirant (The Suitor)
Year: 1962
Director: Pierre Etaix
Country: France
Language: Frence 

Born in 1928, Pierre Etaix may be one of the greatest French directors still living. Making a series of critically acclaimed feature length and short films throughout the 60's and working with the likes of Jacques Tati, Nagasi Oshima and Robert Bresson, it is a shame that his cinematic genius is not well known outside his home country of France. His films would be essentially forgotten about in North America if it weren't for the Janus film company and The Criterion Collection. Thanks to them I was able to view The Suitor in pristine quality.

The film's main character Pierre is a shy man whose sole focus in life is studying astrology in solitude, which is often difficult since he still lives at and studies in his parent's house. His parent's would rather he date and get married. He takes on this task with verve. Not knowing how to approach women in a romantic way, he watches how other men operate and tries to emulate them, most often without success.

The Suitor is a remarkable homage to silent American comedic cinema. Much of Keaton, Chaplin, Lloyd and Langdon's character personas can be seen in Etaix's Pierre. The man is innocent, sweet, intelligent and finds himself in more hilarious situations that he bargained for. Etaix drives Pierre into a world of sight gags and missed communications, perhaps more intelligently than the four major silent era comedians. The Director uses The Suitor to, of all things, celebrate the complexity of French grammar. Much of the plot revolves around a woman who can't speak French very well; when she means to say "The book is not on the table", she accidently says "le livre est sur la table" meaning "The book is on the table"

Unfortunately, even though the woman's words are not subtitled, the ending of the film may become quite obvious. Despite "knowing" the ending I found myself entranced in the comedic world Pierre Etaix has created. It is incredibly charming and optimistic; there is great magic in this film which was made by a former clown. Unlike many American films that feel to falsely optimistic or patronizing, this is heartwarming yet never ceases to be unbelievable or cheesy.

In conclusion, not only is The Suitor entertaining, but it is remarkably inventive as well. Pierre Etaix has the power to lift your imagination and your spirit. Can you have a bad day after watching one of his films? No. It is warm, nostalgic, and most importantly side splittingly funny. Etaix may even be using the film as a vehicle for a deeper criticism of relationships in society. Praise it! 4.5/5