The Romance of Astrea and Celadon

This movie is based on a 1610 French novel which takes place in fifth-century Gaul. The story is about the title lovers, children of two feuding families, and at a festival, Celadon tries to hide the romance by pretending to be in love with another girl. Though it was for show, Astrea assumes Celadon's infidelity was genuine and tells him she never wants to see him again, though he threatens to drown himself...and jumps into the river to do so. This causes distress to both the villagers, especially Astrea...but they are unaware that he had been rescued by three nymphs who take him to their castle. One nymph wants Celadon for himself, but another manages to smuggle him out and have him live in the forest, with her druid father coming to help him. But Celadon won't go home because Astrea ordered her not to see him. The rest of the movie revolves around getting Astrea and Celadon back together, which is much more time-consuming than it should be. The movie is full of elements that hardly evoke what fifth-century Gaul must have been like, including a castle and garden that must have dated from at least a millennium later, overly-refined statuary and writing and such, and the discussions of love and religion have little relevance to the overall story. Worst of all, however, is that the two lovers could have gotten back together without having had to resort to all the rigmarole-hence my review title.

Such a bizarre, lovely movie just begging to be misunderstood by people taking it way too seriously. Very tongue-in-cheek and deftly constructed.

kind of surreal and ethereal and very french. but the subtitles were really hard to read.

bountiful bucolic beauty; one finds it hard to believe this movie came from rohmer, one of france's best directors, when it feels like a dream(y) highschool r&j-esque play...

slow..s.l.o.w...s..l..o..w....s...l...o...w..... ok, you get the picture *wink* silly rubbish, really! but Celadon is both pretty & handsome!! LOL

A beautifully rendered, philosophically informed love story from Rohmer. The film begins with a compelling and dramatic exchange that helps keep the film moving through some of the more philosophical dialogue later. Rohmer's film reflects deeply on the nature of true love, of union with another, and with the existence and nature of God.

celadon non è COSI' bello e dai, anche se gli metti una coperta in testa non sembra una donna é_è

Not recommend for "american pie movie" lovers...

Film littéraire sur l'incompréhension amoureuse même lorsqu'on éprouve des sentiments réciproques. Une histoire ludique qui s'amuse des genres des époques et du verbe. Un ovni cinématographique très frais réalisé par Éric Rohmer à l'âge de 87 ans (comme quoi...). A voir.

the ending was perfect.