Lola (1961)

Set in the coastal city of Nantes, France. A young man (Marc Michel) drifts aimlessly through life until he meets his first love Lola (Anouk Aimee) again. She is now a cabaret singer but she has her own romantic dreams which don't include the young man. Written and directed by Jacques Demy, this was his feature film debut and it's an enchanting if bittersweet romantic fantasy born out of the Hollywood dream factories. Although exquisitely shot in B&W scope by Raoul Coutard rather than Technicolor, it's as much a candy coated confection as an MGM Technicolor musical. Aimee's Lola lives in an optimistic bubble waiting for a fairy tale end and she gets it. This is in contrast to Michel's Roland who will forever remember Lola as the love of his life and the one that got away. Coincidence is a factor (as it is in other Demy films) here as it ties unrelated characters together. For example, a character will go to see a Gary Cooper movie by chance and that same Gary Cooper film ties in to another unrelated character's circumstance. The lovely underscore is by Michel Legrand. An elegant piece of film making. With Elina Labourdette, Jacques Harden, Allan Scott and Annie Duperoux.