Chloe in the Afternoon

Éric Rohmer’s L'Amour l'après-midi (Chloe in the Afternoon / Love in the Afternoon; 1972) is actually my first of his reputable “Six Moral Tales” series dealing with men and their complex relationships. I typically nowadays save films outside my home country for this time of year. Funnily enough, I’m not sure why that’s the case as—for example—Chloe in the Afternoon isn’t “seasonal”. I think after Halloween, getting in so many horror films, I’m ready for a bit of “down”. I don’t abandon horror altogether, but I seek out film and content that offers something different. Bernard Verney, as Frédéric, works at a successful firm in Paris that appears to be building its reputation when a young woman from his past, Chloé (ZouZou), arrives unexpectedly, offering an “alternative” to his current marriage. Frédéric grapples with beauty of various women on a daily basis. He loves his wife, Hélène (Bernard’s real-life wife, Françoise), and they are about to have a second child. He has a life that would appear to be ideal. His home, career (and wife is a teacher), group of friends are of the “bourgeois” variety. Chloe is right the opposite. She is adventurous in her sex life, often unpredictable when it comes to turning up in Frédéric’s office and life. Chloe admits to even falling in love with him eventually, clearly willing to sleep with him, undressing in front of him at one point, and after a shower requesting he towel her off. There is one such scene where she allows him to glide his hand across her side and slightly up her body as he complements her figure. That close-to-the-edge yearnings and desire, the contemplation and “should I or shouldn’t I?” debate inside, Bernard Verney really brings that out. You can see his eyes (even when there isn’t narration to tell us how he feels and what he’s processing) the wheels turning. ZouZou is indeed quite a desirable presence, especially during those moments where she challenges Frédéric, not letting him off the hook in terms of what an affair does in terms of its complications and guilt but also her willingness to be involved with him nonetheless. When Chloe is around he’s admittedly at ease because he relieves all his thoughts and feelings to her. But her presence also brings desire and the proposition of adultery. When she is away (like not telling him when going away with some artist on a “vacation” or a dark mood period when money is low and jobs for her are elusive), Frédéric agonizes. Eventually Frédéric and Chloé are alone and she’s naked on her bed awaiting him. His moment of truth: he heads out the bathroom door and to his wife. Hélène must have been expecting something awful because she breaks down and the two of them head to the bedroom. All seems well. Some will watch this film and just want to rent Frédéric in two, probably wondering why he would just dismiss Chloé immediately because he had a family at home. His wife might not be the easiest person to just shoot the shit with but she’s not an ogre. We see her going through books, taking notes, preparing for the next day when they are at home. Hélène is shown at a dinner with guests noticing her husband’s wandering attention, far away somewhere else. The little “polite” kisses between Frédéric and Chloé are constant, so I was looking to see if they would eventually turn into something else. Frédéric gets close, that’s for sure. His “we shouldn’t go any further and risk our friendship” attitude gradually shifts to kisses on her neck and a closeness where hands touch and there’s reach around necks. Right to the edge, but he doesn’t commit all the way. Perhaps the marriage will be stronger. The resistance and ability to return to his wife right before going “all the way” could maybe lead to them talking more, releasing and giving more of what lies within. That we will not see. It ends with a trip to the bedroom and perhaps some of the best sex Frédéric and Hélène ever have. I was left wondering where Chloé would end up. She did have a nice job at a clothing store (set up by Frédéric and his secretary) and a decent place to live. She was left naked in her bed expecting him to indulge so would she feel scorned? That we will never know.