La collectionneuse

The Moral Tales are populated by vain, insecure men who insist on finding moral justifications for self-centered behavior. But none of Rohmer’s male characters fit that description better than the two bohemians—an art dealer and an experimental painter—who retreat to a Riviera summer house for a quiet getaway and find themselves sharing the space with a sexually threatening young woman in this cunning, bitter psychological study. Rohmer and cinematographer Néstor Almendros shot La collectionneuse quickly and cheaply, on color 35mm, with an array of mirrors and other devices to exploit their setting’s rich natural light. The resulting film’s cheery palette, full of seductive golden tints and deep nocturnal blues, underlines how thrillingly and ruthlessly Rohmer excoriates his heroes. This was a turning point for the director and the series.