The Aviator's Wife

Dir / Scr: Éric Rohmer
Cast: Philippe Marlaud, Marie Rivière, Anne-Laure Meury, Mathieu Carrière
1981 / Colour / DCP / French / Eng subtitles / 101min

The first of Rohmer's ‘Comedies and Proverbs' series, based on the saying, ‘It is impossible to think about nothing'. Law student Francois spots his girlfriend Anne leaving her apartment in the company of her ex, pilot Christian, and fears the worst. Intent on discovering the truth, Francois becomes an amateur sleuth, trailing Christian around Paris with the 15-year-old school girl Lucie in tow. The labyrinth of the city's streets sets the stage for the cauldrons of emotions in love to play out. Rohmer reverted to shooting in 16mm, giving the scenes a grainy, weathered quality that mirrors the state of precariousness and insecurity engendered by love. Stephen served as assistant to Cécile Decugis, learning the foundations of her craft that would lead to her longterm collaboration with the director. She also displayed her talent on the other side of the camera, playing the part of a trilingual tourist snapping away at le parc des Buttes- Chaumont – as much a constructed personae as her real-life self.