Rating: 
Summary: Bite my Angst!
Review: An affair almost happens. The French are fond of making films in which stuff almost happens, but doesn't.
And it doesn't get better than Eric Rohmer not doing it.About as profound as 'American Beauty.' Maybe they'll play on a double bill someday.
Rating: 
Summary: A poor transfer of a delightful film
Review: As a film, "Claire's Knee" retains its charm and is a pleasure to see every couple of years. I had bought the DVD assuming the image and sound would be superior to the VHS version but was disappointed by the poor quality of the transfer. The image is not sharp and the color, which should be vibrant, is washed out and poorly balanced. Moreover, I was anticipating the film would be presented in a 1.66:1 aspect ratio, but it is full-frame instead. The image looks so flat and lacking in resolution that one could almost suspect that the DVD had been made from a VHS copy. Whatever the source for the transfer was, it's truly a pity Fox Lorber should be satisfied to sell such a mediocre product.
Rating:
Summary: LET'S SIT DOWN AND CHAT
Review: First of all, a huge thanks to Winstar for bringing the movies of french director Eric Rohmer in the DVD market. This director is one of the world major directors of the last 40 years, a child of the Nouvelle Vague. CLAIRE'S KNEE is the fifth of the moral tales serie, shot directly after the masterpiece MY NIGHT AT MAUD'S. Like all Eric Rohmer's movies, CLAIRE'S KNEE is in a certain way hypnotic, in the medical sense of the word. Because you will pass 100 minutes to listen to actors who are saying the most deep philosophical truths while playing tennis, eating or climbing mountains. Most of the actors are non professional but it doesn't matter ; you will be so interested in the dialogs and in each gesture of the characters that you won't have the time to remark that Robert De Niro is not on the screen. The place : the Lake of Annecy's surroundings, near Geneva, Switzerland. The argument : a diplomat on holidays, on the verge of getting married, encounters two young girls, 16 and 18 years old. 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. It's very difficult to summarize a screenplay which gives such importance to the silences of the characters. So, be curious ! Nothing to be mad about the extra-features and the audio and video transfers. A DVD for the fetishists ones.
Rating:
Summary: A 5 star film; but yet another mediocre DVD from Fox Lorber.
Review: First of all, I want to stress that the low rating for this DVD does not refer to the film itself, but to the lackluster transfer by Fox Lorber. I can second the comment of the reviewer below, that the film itself deserves five stars, whereas the video and audio quality of this DVD are no better than a VHS tape (in fact, this would be very low quality for a VHS for that matter). Moreover, as with their Godard and Truffaut issues, Fox Lorber has marked only 6 chapter headings on this DVD. Now how hard is it to bookmark a chapter? Of course, I suppose that would actually require taking some interest in the film itself, and perhaps even watching it a couple of times, so as to gadge the appropriate moments to bookmark. Thus, this DVD does not even have the advantage of convenient chapter options. It is a shame that a company who owns the rights to so many great films repeatedly releases such poorly engineered DVDs. There are, of course, exceptions (more recent titles, many of the Truffaut issues, or Godard's "Vivre Sa Vie," for example). Nonetheless, I have come to expect from Fox Lorber below average video and audio quality, along with few special features, if any (even the director and actor videographies are often incomplete). Even though I own many DVDs from Fox Lorber, inspite of their mediocre quality, this is one issue that I cannot recommend. I first rented this film on DVD, but elected to purchase it on VHS, instead. This is my second favorite Rohmer film, finishing a close second after "Chloe in the Afternoon," and I would recommend it to anyone interested in the French New Wave. However, do not waste your money on this DVD.
Rating:
Summary: Avoid this DVD
Review: Great film, but terrible transfer. If you watch this film for the first time on this DVD, you will get a very bad impression of this great film. So avoid it. But anyway there is never to expect much quality from FLA.
Rating:
Summary: The Man Who Loved Women
Review: I don't know if it's a general feeling or if it's merely the few people whom have reviewed this film here on amazon, but, it seems people don't really like this movie by one of my favorite directors, Eric Rohmer. I think the problem most people have with this movie is not the acting or the directing, or the scenery but it's story-line of an older man being attracted to two much younger girls then himself. And, to be honest, I wasn't really bothered by it that much, but, I was mildly put off.
I love the characters in any Rohmer film. I enjoy hearing them speak of love, searching for love, and of course when they actually find it. There's such charm and wit to Rohmer's films. He's so subtle in his delivery that I can't help but always fall under his spells. And "Claire's Knee" has the elements that make any Rohmer film great, but, it lacked something and for the life of me, I can't put my finger on it other than the seeing this older guy kissing and holding hands with these younger girls. But, there is much to enjoy in this movie anyway.
Jerome (Jean-Claude Brialy) has returned from Sweden, where he is about to get to get married, to France to sell his old countryside house, where he vactioned as a boy. When he arrives he meets his old friend Aurora (Aurora Cornu). Aurora is staying with a family while in France, getting ready to write a story. She's a novelist. She tells him her story, which is about an older diplomatic man falling for two younger women whom he sees playing tennis everyday. And, in order to give her some inspiration she ask Jerome if he will live out her story. Jerome, at first says no, but, finds that Mrs. Walter's (Michele Montel), the owner of the house where Aurora is staying, daughter, Laura (Beatrice Romand) has a crush on Jerome. And so, without wanting to, finds he's already involved in Aurora's little scheme wheather he wants to be or not. Now, Aurora has a sister named Claire (Laurence de Monaghan), hence the title. And Jerome finds that, even though he wont admit it he is attracted to her too. Especially, her knees. And so it all becomes a tale of a man in one way reliving his past, accepting his future and in another, it's a story of man's everyday struggle with the temptation known as; women. As far as the rest of the plot goes, you have the buy or rent the movie to find out.
"Claire's Knee" is an extremely well done film, that does have it's choice moments. The cinamatography is beautiful. The location shots are breathtaking. The countryside complements the sometimes tender moments of the film. And, Rohmer's directing is first-rate, all the way. Even though I don't feel this film is up to par with other Rohmer films like "My Night at Maud's", "Chloe in the Afternoon" or "Pauline at the Beach", "Claire's Knee" is a film I wish more people would see and not be so critical of. A cinematic treat from Eric Rohmer.
Bottom-line: "Claire's Knee" is a film rich in atmosphere. It has some delightful scenes, good dialogue and fine acting. May not be Rohmer's best, but, is still a pleasure to watch.
Rating: 
Summary: QUIET, LOW-KEY, BUT UTTERLY CHARMING
Review: I enjoyed this movie about an older man on vacation tempted by two young sisters, teenagers Laura and Claire. The man's friend, Aurora, a novelist, tries to construct a plot around the man's infatuation with the young girls. There's no melodrama here; everything is quiet and understated, and all the more entrancing for that. I also loved the setting--beautiful lakes and mountains. So, the movie is good. I only had two problems with it. First, the lighting is poor in some scenes. Second, this edition by FOX LORBER is shoddy. The colors are drab and faded. It actually looks as if FOX LORBER just transfered the movie to DVD from an old, worn VHS tape. I'm not sure what the original aspect ratio is, but it looks as if the movie was formatted to fit the TV screen so that you don't get the full picture. I probably would have given the movie a four star rating if the quality of the DVD were better. But the movie is so charming that I was able to enjoy it despite the poor FOX LORBER treatment.
Rating:
Summary: Love the film, DVD is a bare bones release
Review: I really enjoy the bemused exchanges of the adults trying to make sense out of (and foolishly participate in) the world of youthful love. So much sublety is there even in the subtitles. I wish I knew French. The only advantage of the DVD over a VHS release is that you have the DVD direct access functions, chapter selection, and such. There's no control over subtitles, no optional dubbing, no commentary to speak of. No trailers for the movie itself or any others.
Rating: 
Summary: "At the same time, it was my good deed."
Review: In my early teens, I was lucky enough to see my first-ever foreign films--"Belle de Jour" (Luis Bunuel), and "Claire's Knee" (Eric Rohmer). Both films were a major revelation to me, and both films triggered a life-long love of French cinema. "Claire's Knee" is film 5 in director Eric Rohmer's Six Moral Tales series, but it is not necessary to watch the other films in the series to make sense of "Claire's Knee." However, Rohmer films are really only for the serious French film aficionado. Rohmer's critics charge that his films are pretentious and boring, and while it is true that Rohmer films are not noted for their action sequences, nonetheless, I find his films fascinating and re-watch many of them when I have the chance. Most of Rohmer's films are full of conversations between characters, and if you find the characters interesting, or if the issues they face intrigue you, then you may enjoy Rohmer films. However, if you dislike one Rohmer film, you will probably dislike them all. And no one seems to be blase on the subject--he's a director whose films you either love and rave about or you loathe and avoid. Rohmer seems to have an obsession with French people on holiday, and "Claire's Knee" is not an exception to that. In "Claire's Knee," middle-aged writer Jerome visits his holiday home which he is preparing to sell prior to his upcoming marriage to long-time girlfriend, Lucinde. Jerome meets fellow writer and long-time acquaintance, Aurora, who is staying with a female friend and her 2 teenage daughters, Laura and Claire. Aurora professes to be in the midst of a struggle with a fictional character--an older man who is obsessed with younger girls. Jerome makes a strange bargain with Aurora, and he agrees that he will encourage Laura to fall in love with him. Aurora claims that observing the relationship Jerome has with Laura will help her solve the plot difficulties she is experiencing. Is Aurora's interest in encouraging a relationship between Jerome and Laura motivated by dispassionate intellectual curiosity as she claims, or is there something darker afoot? And why does Jerome agree to indulge Aurora? But Laura, in spite of her youth and inexperience, possesses a charming wisdom that unnerves Jerome, so he begins to focus, instead, on the worldly, less introspective and more experienced Claire. Jerome quickly becomes obsessed with the idea of touching Claire's knee. Aurora maintains that in a novel sometimes what doesn't happen is as interesting as what does happen, and that idea of the interest in non-action is never clearer than in Rohmer's films. In "Claire's Knee," the fascination with the non-occurrence is carried out with sheer perfection, and the interest remains in the question--'what actions will a character take in a certain situation?' Rohmer is a very prolific director, but the languorous film "Claire's Knee" remains one of my very favourites. Keep an eye open for a very young Fabrice Luchini in the role of Vincent, Laura's boyfriend-displacedhuman
Rating:
Summary: "At the same time, it was my good deed."
Review: In my early teens, I was lucky enough to see my first-ever foreign films--"Belle de Jour" (Luis Bunuel), and "Claire's Knee" (Eric Rohmer). Both films were a major revelation to me, and both films triggered a life-long love of French cinema. "Claire's Knee" is film 5 in director Eric Rohmer's Six Moral Tales series, but it is not necessary to watch the other films in the series to make sense of "Claire's Knee." However, Rohmer films are really only for the serious French film aficionado. Rohmer's critics charge that his films are pretentious and boring, and while it is true that Rohmer films are not noted for their action sequences, nonetheless, I find his films fascinating and re-watch many of them when I have the chance. Most of Rohmer's films are full of conversations between characters, and if you find the characters interesting, or if the issues they face intrigue you, then you may enjoy Rohmer films. However, if you dislike one Rohmer film, you will probably dislike them all. And no one seems to be blase on the subject--he's a director whose films you either love and rave about or you loathe and avoid. Rohmer seems to have an obsession with French people on holiday, and "Claire's Knee" is not an exception to that. In "Claire's Knee," middle-aged writer Jerome visits his holiday home which he is preparing to sell prior to his upcoming marriage to long-time girlfriend, Lucinde. Jerome meets fellow writer and long-time acquaintance, Aurora, who is staying with a female friend and her 2 teenage daughters, Laura and Claire. Aurora professes to be in the midst of a struggle with a fictional character--an older man who is obsessed with younger girls. Jerome makes a strange bargain with Aurora, and he agrees that he will encourage Laura to fall in love with him. Aurora claims that observing the relationship Jerome has with Laura will help her solve the plot difficulties she is experiencing. Is Aurora's interest in encouraging a relationship between Jerome and Laura motivated by dispassionate intellectual curiosity as she claims, or is there something darker afoot? And why does Jerome agree to indulge Aurora? But Laura, in spite of her youth and inexperience, possesses a charming wisdom that unnerves Jerome, so he begins to focus, instead, on the worldly, less introspective and more experienced Claire. Jerome quickly becomes obsessed with the idea of touching Claire's knee. Aurora maintains that in a novel sometimes what doesn't happen is as interesting as what does happen, and that idea of the interest in non-action is never clearer than in Rohmer's films. In "Claire's Knee," the fascination with the non-occurrence is carried out with sheer perfection, and the interest remains in the question--'what actions will a character take in a certain situation?' Rohmer is a very prolific director, but the languorous film "Claire's Knee" remains one of my very favourites. Keep an eye open for a very young Fabrice Luchini in the role of Vincent, Laura's boyfriend-displacedhuman
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