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Fanfan la Tulipe (1952) More at IMDbPro »

1 article from 2008

18 November 2008 9:01 PM, PST | avclub.com | See recent The AV Club news »

The 1952 French smash Fanfan La Tulipe introduces its wandering rogue protagonist Fanfan (Gérard Philipe) in the middle of what seems to be a typical day. Having "tumbled" a farmer's daughter in the middle of the afternoon, he's caught in a post-coital nap by the farmer and a small mob. Sensing charm might not be enough to get him out of the situation, he jumps in a nearby river and swims away without a second thought. It doesn't work—the film cuts almost instantly to the crowd attempting to drag a wet Philipe to the altar—but that gesture, the kind signifying a person who believes himself completely free, captures much of what's appealing (and a little suspect) about the film's hero. Directed by the venerable Christian-Jaque, Fanfan La Tulipe plays like an extension of its protagonist's personality. It's so pleased with its own ability to be charming that all... »

- Keith Phipps

1 article from 2008