Genou de Claire, Le (1970) - Claire's Knee – Movie 《克拉之膝》

A 1970 film by French director and writer Éric Rohmer, it is the fifth movie in the series of his famous Six Moral Tales.

“A diplomat Jerôme on holidays, on the verge of getting married, encounters two young girls, 16 years old Laura and her step-sister, 18 years old Claire. During three weeks, he will try to seduce them in order to prove to himself that he is ready for marriage and cannot fall in love with another woman”


The movie is praised as a delicate and precious work of art through character’s conversations and interactions. I just wish I knew French so I could under the delicacy of the movie better.


Lake Annecy, France

The film was taken by the Lake Annecy, the 2nd largest lake in France. I have never been to France, it however,remind me of the Lake Winnipesaukee, the biggest lake in New Hampshire, my favorite destination during summer, where another great movie The Golden Pond (金色池塘) was taken.



Cinematography of the lake and the French Alps in the summer time is luscious in this movie. The color palette in the film is a masterpiece of style and scheme, just like Monet’s painting. Watching the movie made me get into the European mood and yearn for a nice summer vacation there.



The knee

Before I watched the movie, I stared at the title and wondering what on earth did the "knee" to do with this movie. Well, it is because Jerôme is hopelessly attracted to Claire's knee. "Every woman has her vulnerable point. For some, it is the nape of the neck, the waist, the hands. For Claire, in that position, in that light, it was her knee." He says so.

Baring her knee on a ladder under a blooming cherry tree, Claire unwittingly instigates Jerôme’s moral crisis and creates both one of French cinema’s most enduring moments and what has become the iconic image of Rohmer’s Moral Tales.



The movie contains Claire's knee snap shots in different positions. Can you see anything extraordinary here? I see nothing but skinny legs. Finally, Jerôme fulfilled his yearnings by placing his hand upon Claire's knee. LOL!



Let's take a further look at this movie's wardrobe. The setting of the movie laid the tone of the wardrobe: basically countryside, vacation mood, casual, European and rich upper class look.

The Hats

Everybody wears hats in this movie. Maybe it is because of being on vacation, maybe being French? Anyway, the hats look great here.


Girls and their dresses:

The girls are indeed very pretty. Laura is clever, slyly sophisticated, vulnerable and honest. In contrast Claire is a long-legged blond, superficial beauty.

The wardrobe for Laura is simple, boyish, just right for a 16 year old girl and her character: the button decoration on the black skirt is kinda unique; the yellow sweater and short pant with black knee sock are very nice for hiking in a sunny day; love the simple red sweater dress with belt - a casual holiday look; they sunbath by the lake in front of the boardinghouse all the time. Aren't you jealous?!


No wonder Jerôme was immediately attracted by Claire as soon as they met even though he just showed affection to Laura. He can't move his eyes from her. Claire, as Laura's elder sister, is more mature, feminine and a bit distant:

First, it is this turquoise bikini that exposes her perfect skinny figure:


Then she threw on a matching color hat and a navy knit cover-up effortlessly and beautifully:


This blue mini dress with matching hat is absolutely adorable! Here also comes my favorite part of the movie - a perfect description of tranquil country life, with mom reading in the yard and children picking cherries. I can't help but recall when I was a kid, my mom used to climb to the big date tree to pick dates for us in our country house yard with my grandmother shouting at her because she didn't use a ladder. And I stood under the tree facing the sky and waiting for my mom to throw me the biggest ripe dates. How much I miss those old times with my folks! My mom was very young and energetic back then and my father always called her a monkey. (Here, I wish my mom will recover soon, very soon...)


Claire and her boyfriend, a very sweet young couple: preppy tennis outfits, folklore pattern print party dress and shirt... they do like match-matchy - so cute!


A simple black dress with a golden belt and long necklace: fabulous with or without a white jacket.


Claire’s mom is a stylish, sophisticated, rich French lady and a career woman:


And last, Jerôme’s female writer friend, a romantic yet intellectual woman:

Houseboat (1958) – Movie《水上人家》/《一家春》/《船屋》

A great 50’s Romantic family classic with a happy ending. The story is about how a handsome widower, a diplomat from Washington D.C, Tom Winston (Cary Grant卡里格兰特) fell in love with Cinzia Zaccardi (Sophia Loren索非亚罗兰), daughter of a prominent classical conductor and a beautiful Italian woman. I find a lot of similarities between this movie and "The Sound of Music"《音乐之声》, in that a woman comes into a dysfunctional family and not only reunites its members but marries the head of the house, who always happens to be handsome and charming. Also the three mischievous, premature kids were adorable and gave the movie a very vivid family touch.


I especially enjoyed the scene of CG brought three formal dressed kids to the live concert on Lincoln Memorial Circle. It was lovely! If you pay attention, all the audiences were dressed formally and nicely. It was a great night out with good taste. I once read about that fashion and lifestyle in Washington D.C has been highly connected to politics, society and the people who reside in White House. The Democrats are more hip, more liberal, with the more conservative Republican Party. President Clinton often had free concerts on the Mall where he brought in bands from all over the world. The movie was taken in 1958 during which was Republican Eisenhower in charge. This might not be a reflection of the reality of the time.


The wardrobe is impeccable and stunning as always in those days. Sophia Loren’s beauty is exotic, wild and European. She was very much tanned, same was CG. It is interesting to see how my view of beautiful things evolves as I grow up and exploit the world. I still remember when I was a kid, I saw some pictures of her from movie magazines and I thought that was one ugly face!Veteran clothes designer Edith Head, long a Paramount legend with her incredible clothes designs over 40 years for all of the Paramount stars is the leading designer for the wardrobe. Sophia Loren shines from the head to toe in these glamorous, lavish and highly flattering clothes with matching hats, gloves and scarves.
A great movie aside, I was definitely dazzled by these beautiful dresses:

A Simple army green dress clung to SL's curvaceous figure:

The stunning Little Black Dress (LBD). They first met.

The breath-taking gold party dress
(This was actually fun. Carolyn, Tom’s deceased wife’s little sister, who has been in love with Tom, bought a very tacky golden dress decorated with pink roses for Cinzia to a party. There was obvious competition between the two women. SL changed it to a stunning, sexy one which wowed Carolyn when they met that night. Talk about creativity!)


The grand wedding dress:

Other LBDs and outfits spotted on SL:
No.2 character Carolyn was also gorgeous in this film:

And finally, let's take a look at the lovely kids and the houseboat, in case that you like me had no idea about what a houseboat looks like before I watch the film.