Hotel Des Ameriques (1981)

Set in the seacoast town of Biarritz, a chance late night encounter between an anesthesiologist (Catherine Deneuve) and a restless vagabond (Patrick Dewaere) develops into a mismatched romance. Co-written and directed by Andre Techine (MY FAVORITE SEASON), this was the first of six movies that Techine and Deneuve made together. While never less than engrossing, one has to wonder what Techine found so fascinating about what is essentially an unhealthy relationship between two disturbed people. What does Deneuve see in Dewaere's self pitying whining loser that we don't? Perhaps it's my bias about women who are treated like crap by the man they "love" yet still hang around when everything screams, "Get out of this sick relationship!". To Techine's credit, he leaves the ending open so there's no guarantee this twisted relationship will continue. There's also a pretentious parasite played by Etienne Chicot who attaches himself to Dewaere that's the most irritating character in the film. Their friendship is also part of the film's theme of detrimental alliances. With Josiane Balasko, Sabine Haudepin and Francois Perrot.