bathing suit body scenes

You will not get slammed of course, you just say your opinion and that's fine! We discuss politely here...
I hope! :)

Personally, I disagree with you :) I believe all three girls looked (realistically) fine in their bikinis (+ the bonus scene of Solene in her lingerie). I also believe that the 90s high-waist bikinis do compliment women and not the other way around. Of course that's personal taste; modern age must disagree with me here! :)

I agree with you on the Lena part. While I don't think it was over-played, I do believe that Rohmer wanted us to dislike her. But being too emotional or maybe immature is not that uncommon among both girls and boys. I'm sure you met a few so it's not at all unrealistic for a character to be portrayed like that in a movie.

Really? You didn't find Lena attractive? I think she looked quite beautiful. Sure, she wasn't as gorgeous as Solene but still, she looked very sweet and cute. Not in her character though... :)

by shoutingagain;

"did they all look pretty bad in their bathing suits? Maybe it was their choice in cuts (high-waisted, all of them) but truly, while they were attractive ladies (well Solene most of all), those suits did them no favors. They appeared unnecessary hippy & fat through the thighs."

All the women in the film imo had healthy and attractive bodies. To me this is how young, good looking women should look like.
- What's sad about the OPs comment is how Hollywood has led many women to not like their bodies when they are healthy.
It has unfortunately pushed many women to radical diets and eating disorders.

"seriously they over-played how awful Lena was!"

There were 3 main women characters in the movie. I've known women who were like all of them including Lena.

"It destroyed any hopes that this protagonist could be viewed compassionately as a normal person (as NO normal guy would stand for someone saying their family/friends thought he didn't measure up & she agreed."

Is Gaspard 'normal' (whatever that is). You probably mean average. No, he's not average. He has a college math degree. Most people don't finish college. He's also a shy guy.
And he puts up with abuse. There are men in our world who put up with abuse.
Is he typical? Probably not. But can a person like this exist in our world? Yes.

"He STANDS there, listens & STILL tries to win her over. HUH??? ONLY a total & complete LOSER with NO spine would allow such abuse."

Gaspard was hooked on staying with Lena. Some people, including men, put up with a lot of abuse.
As a woman the OP should be aware that women can also be in abusive relationships.

"But he DID look like a too-thin attractive gay man!)."

Oh brother, I'll leave the slur alone.

Of course the OP doesn't have to like anything about this movie.
But because women and heterosexual men like this exist in our world, imo a movie can be made about people like this.

BB ;-)

it is just in my opinion - imo - 🌈

It's a French film and trying to look as realistic as possible. Hollywood films present a sort of hyperreality in which everyone is insanely handsome (or insanely ugly, which is the other side of the same coin), but Rohmer's films aim to show life as it is lived. Gaspard wouldn't be able to attract an insanely hot woman.

As to the business with the relatives, there could be explanations. For one thing, Gaspard is still getting to know himself. He doesn't have all that much self-confidence. For another, what the relatives say doesn't really matter and he could put the girl's reaction down to just agreeing to their faces and privately thinking differently. He has enough confidence to think she likes him at least a little.