Romantic 'A Man and a Woman' (1966).

VALENTINE WEEK SPECIAL-6.

FRENCH ROMANTIC 

'A MAN AND A WOMAN'!

- Manoj Kulkarni

Filmmaker Claude Lelouch directing!

One of my most favourite romantic French films..'Un Homme Et Une Femme' ('A Man and a Woman'/1966) is already completed 50 years; But it's relationship theme is still contemporary! This unconventional matured film written-produced & directed by renowned French filmmaker Claude Lelouch who is 80 now!

Poster of 'A Man and a Woman' (1966) capturing main scenes!

The film is about a young widow and widower who meet by chance at their children's boarding school and whose budding relationship is complicated by the memories of their spouses! Beautiful Anouk Aimee and Jean-Louis Trintignant portrayed this romantic lead sensibly with Pierre Barouch, Valerie Lagrange & Antoine Sire!

Jean-Louis Trintignant & Anouk Aimee in 'A Man and a Woman's song!

Lelouch himself nicely cinematographed this film on the screenplay which he wrote with Pierre Uytterhoeven...And also himself edited the film with Claude Barrois! Francis Lai nicely composed it's music & theme song which superbly sung by Nicole Croisille & Pierre Barouh!

Beautiful Anouk Aimee & Jean-Louis Trintignant

Commercially very successful this film was screened in various prestigious international film festivals & won several awards! This won 'Palme d'Or' at 'Cannes Film Festival' and 'Best Foreign Language Film' & 'Best Writing' of 'Oscar'! In addition to this Anouk Aimee won 'Best Actress' of 'Golden Globe'!!

'A Man and a Woman'..Part I (1966) & II (1986).

In 1986 Lelouch made a sequel of this film as 'A Man and a Woman: 20 Years Later' (Un Homme et une Femme, 20 Ans Déjà) with same lead artists!

I remember nice meeting with it's filmmaker Claude Lelouch at our 'International Film Festival of India' about 20 years ago!!

It's theme song "Chabadabada.." with intense romantic scenes still lingering in mind!

Renowned French filmmaker Claude Lelouch.

[Bollywood's hit film 'Andaz' (with stars Rajesh Khanna, Hema Malini & Shammi Kapoor) made by Ramesh Sippy in 1971..had a similar plot! I mentioned this while interacting with Mr. Sippy in 'IFFI' at Goa few years back!]

- Manoj Kulkarni
['Chitrasrushti', Pune, India]