MovieChat Forums > L'amour l'après-midi (1972) Discussion > About the ending (spoilers)

About the ending (spoilers)

posted 14 years ago by legal_eazin
7 replies | jump to latest

This film was awesome, which is somewhat strange to say about a film that is based primarily on dialogue that occurs mostly between no more than 2 people at a time. The "awesome factor" comes from the emotional depth coming from each of the main characters, which culminates to a climactic yet subtle ending.

That being said, I would like to get other peoples' reactions on the ending, namely the dialogue between the husband and wife after he abandon's Chloe. It is very tense followed by tears from the wife, which brings me to ask, did the wife cry because she knew about the affair, or was she having an affair herself?Or other theories?

[–] dav2323 14 years ago

I just finished watching the film and had the same thoughts about the ending. My initial interpretation was that his wife was having an affair and she could not contain her guilt at that point. But after having a little time to think, i now believe she was expressing relief that her husband was once again being attentive to her in a loving way. I think she most likely didn't know about the affair but did suspect it strongly.

Great movie. I'm glad i gave it a chance.

[–] gothamgrrl 11 years ago

I don't know. It could be both. That she sensed her relationship with her husband drifting. And so was contemplating having an affair herself (remember Claire mentioning that she saw his wife walking with a guy on the street. Although at the time I thought it was Claire just planting seeds of doubt on the husband, manipulative as Claire was). And suspected her husband of the same. I'd like to think that was more it. And the tears was one of relief.

[–] djsnafu23 11 years ago

I concur with the other posts. I love the ambiguity of it, but at teh same time I'd love an answer too! I tended to think its more her own guilt and relief of having extra attention again more than her knowledge or suspicion of an affair on his side. What an amazing film.

....

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[–] shelemm 11 years ago

There's npt much reason to believe the wife was having an affair. In some ways, it doesn't even matter.

I think she broke down and cried because of the distance that had been between them. Whatever the reason. She said she liked her independence, but still this has got to feel deeply lonely after a while to be isolated from the person you share a bed and children and a marriage with.

[–] The_Monad 10 years ago

It seemed to me like she was having an affair of her own. She was working at home, supposedly didn't have anything to do, but she was all dressed up, wearing the same dress she wore at their dinner party (which also made me think it was possibly referencing the dinner party, as there was one guy there who didn't seem to have a date, and sort of matched the description Chloe gave of the guy she saw Helene with in the city).

I thought she started to cry because she was going to see her boyfriend and felt guilty that her husband came home to her. Also, maybe she had a feeling that he was cheating on her or at least wanted to cheat on her and was relieved that he decided to return to her.

Anyway, I only watched it once, and I'm not really sure what happened, but this is how it seemed to me.

[–] prplayer 8 years ago

what a fantastic ending it was

but i wonder what did she mean when she said no one is coming till 5

[–] ecamarena07 8 years ago

I believe that's the time she was expecting the Nanny back with kids.

However, I interpreted the final scene to come as a shock to His wife Helene. In his efforts to compensate for all the wrong he's done, he decides to run back to his wife and attempt to be more open and attentive to his wife, thus changing the entire fabric of their relationship. I'm not sure that's what she wants. Much like him, I believe she cherished her freedom and independence. I agree with the other posts in regards that there was a good chance that she was having an affair (which would explain why she would hire such an attractive Nanny, in order to compensate for her own guilt) but I think that was besides the point. I believe Rohmer was hinting more at the inevitability of separation that grows between spouses when not tended too and sometimes no matter the intention, once it goes too far it's too late remedy.