Idylle à la plage: A Rainy Day Dream

Is it worth your time?

If you like movies that move at the speed of a slow tide, yes. It is perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon when you don’t want to think too hard. If you need explosions or a tight plot, you will probably be bored to tears within ten minutes. 🌊

Gwen Norman and Raymond Rouleau have this funny way of looking at each other that feels almost too private to watch. They meet because of the rain, which is a classic trope, but it works here. The sand in Ostend looks cold and grey, not like those sunny postcards you see in travel brochures.

The whole thing has a weird, quiet rhythm. It reminds me a bit of the pacing in The White Woman, where you just sort of hang out in the space with the actors. Sometimes they stop talking entirely, and the sound of the wind just takes over. It’s nice.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Idylle à la plage (1931) through its definitive frames.

Odd little things I noticed:

• The way the rain hits the windows is probably the most interesting character in the first act.
• Rouleau’s coat looks like it weighs about fifty pounds when it gets wet.
• There is a shot of a stray dog walking by that lasts way longer than it needs to. It’s distracting, but I kind of loved it.

I wouldn't say this is as ambitious as The Dawn Patrol, but it isn't trying to be. It’s just a snapshot. Seriously, it feels like someone just pointed a camera at a beach and said, "Go ahead, fall in love."

It’s not perfect. The middle section drags quite a bit, and I found myself checking my phone for no reason. Some of the dialogue sounds like it was written by someone who had never actually had a conversation with a real person before. Still, there’s a charm to it.

If you have a free hour and don't mind a bit of melancholy, give it a shot. It is not going to change your life. Sometimes, that is just fine. ⛱️