Five Day Lover


Five Day Lover is a 1961 French sex comedy film directed and co-written by Philippe de Broca, starring Jean Seberg and Micheline Presle. It is based on the 1959 novel L'amant de cinq jours by Françoise Parturier. The film was entered into the 11th Berlin International Film Festival and nominated for the Golden Bear.

Plot

Claire, a young Englishwoman, lives in Paris with her staid husband, Georges, a government archivist, and their two small children. One day, while attending a fashion show mounted by her friend Madeleine, a couturière, Claire meets a lighthearted young Frenchman, Antoine. Despite the fact that he is being kept by Madeleine, Claire responds to his advances and returns with him to his luxurious bachelor apartment. Before long she is visiting him five afternoons a week; evenings and weekends are reserved for Georges and the children. Madeleine, strong-willed and possessive, learns of the affair and decides to meet the situation directly by inviting Claire and Georges, as well as Antoine, to the same party. The desired effect is achieved when it becomes apparent that Claire is tiring of Antoine and has no intention of seeing him again. Only Georges, quiet and gentle, understands that nothing has really changed. It will not be long before Claire will once more embark on her quest for chance lovers.

Cast

The film was shot in Paris, France, partly in Grand Trianon.

Awards

The film was entered into the 11th Berlin International Film Festival and nominated for the Golden Bear, the ceremony's highest honor. It lost the prize to Michelangelo Antonioni's La Notte.