Poliche: When the Clown Mask Stays On Too Long

So, Poliche. This old French film... it's a curious watch, truly. If you're someone who loves digging into early cinema, especially French melodrama from a bygone era, you might find something here to ponder.

But honestly, for most folks just looking for a good movie night? You'll probably find yourself drifting off. It's slow, very slow, and its emotional beats feel pretty distant now. This isn't one for the casual viewer.

The story follows Didier Méreuil, known to everyone as Poliche. He’s completely smitten with Rosine, a real beauty, and he tries everything under the sun to win her over. Think grand gestures and constant jokes. 🤔

Rosine, though, just isn’t into him. She barely sees him, honestly. She ends up falling for this suave airplane pilot who sweeps her off her feet, proposing to her and everything.

There's this bit early on where Poliche is performing a little song and dance for her at a party. The camera stays on Rosine's face for what feels like ages, and she just looks... bored. Like he's a distraction, not a suitor.

You can almost feel the movie trying to convince you this moment matters. It’s a little too much, but it does make her initial indifference pretty clear.

Marie Bell, who plays Rosine, does a good job of being aloof. She has this way of looking past Poliche, even when he's directly in front of her. It’s a subtle thing, but it registers.

Then things take a turn. Rosine, for reasons that felt a bit sudden, starts to realize there's more to Poliche than just the funny guy. She sees the serious, almost heartbroken Didier underneath all the antics.

It's like a light bulb moment for her. She suddenly wants him back, wants to make things right. But, and this is the film’s central idea, the gap between them has become too large. 💔

The movie tries to show this distance in a few ways. There’s a scene where she tries to talk to him, really talk, and he just defaults back to his Poliche persona, almost as a defense mechanism.

It’s almost like he can't turn it off anymore. He built that wall to protect himself, and now it's too tall to climb over, even for her.

One specific moment sticks with me: Rosine is waiting for him, hopeful, and he walks in, not seeing her at first, just lost in his own thoughts. His face is so different from the Poliche we’ve seen. Then he spots her and the mask snaps back on. 🎭

That brief glimpse of the real Didier, before he puts on the act, really hit home. It makes you feel for him, truly.

The film isn't perfect. The pacing, especially in the middle section, can drag. You find yourself checking your watch, waiting for Rosine to finally figure things out. It takes its sweet time.

And some of the supporting characters just kind of exist. Like the pilot, he's barely a person, more of a plot device to push Rosine away from Poliche initially. He's just... there.

But for what it is, a melodrama about missed connections and the masks people wear, it has its moments. Especially those quiet ones where you see the real pain underneath Poliche’s forced cheer.

It's a look at how choices, even small ones, can create chasms that can’t be easily crossed. Not a cheerful film, but it leaves you thinking about the cost of pretense.

If you're a student of early French cinema, or just really into tragic romance, maybe give Poliche a shot. Just be ready for a slow burn and some pretty heavy themes. It won't be for everyone, but it’s got a certain melancholic charm.