Love at Twenty

Love at Twenty
Film poster
Directed by
Written by
Produced byPierre Roustang
StarringJean-Pierre Léaud
Marie-France Pisier
Edited byClaudine Bouché
Music byGeorges Delerue
Release date
  • 22 June 1962 (1962-06-22)
Running time
120 minutes
Countries
Languages
Box office264,508 admissions (France)[1]

Love at Twenty (French: L'Amour à vingt ans, Japanese: 二十歳の恋, romanizedHatachi no koi, Italian: L'amore a vent'anni, German: Liebe mit zwanzig, Polish: Miłość dwudziestolatków) is a 1962 French-produced omnibus project of Pierre Roustang, consisting of five segments, each with a different director from a different country. It was entered into the 12th Berlin International Film Festival.[2]

The first segment, titled "Antoine and Colette", is by François Truffaut and returns actor Jean-Pierre Léaud to the role of Antoine Doinel, a role he played three years earlier in The 400 Blows and would return to again in 1968 (Stolen Kisses), 1970 (Bed and Board) and 1979 (Love on the Run). It concerns the frustrations of love for the now 17-year-old Doinel and the unresponsive girl he adores.[3]

The second, titled "Rome", is the directorial debut of 21-year-old Renzo Rossellini, son of Roberto Rossellini and later a noted producer. It tells the story of a tough mistress who loses her lover to an older, wealthier and more appreciative woman.[4]

The third, "Tokyo" by Japanese film director Shintarō Ishihara, has been described as a "weird, grotesque"[3] and "clumsy"[5] tale of obsessive and morbid love.

The fourth, "Munich", is by Marcel Ophüls and was described as a "charming, but somewhat sentimental"[3] story of an unwed mother who contrives to trap her baby's father.

The fifth and final segment, "Warsaw" by Andrzej Wajda, depicts a brief intergenerational liaison based upon multiple misunderstandings.[5] The episodes are tied together with still photos by Henri Cartier-Bresson and a wistful jazz soundtrack by Georges Delerue.

Truffaut's and Wajda's segments (the first and the last, respectively) are considered the highlights.[6]

Cast

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References

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  1. ^ Box Office information for Francois Truffaut films at Box Office Story
  2. ^ "IMDB.com: Awards for Love at Twenty". imdb.com. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
  3. ^ a b c Crowther, Bosley (7 February 1963). "Screen: 5 Tales of Young Love:Suffering Is Depicted in Foreign Episodes". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 30 January 2013.
  4. ^ "Answers - The Most Trusted Place for Answering Life's Questions". Answers.com. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  5. ^ a b "Andrzej Wajda. Official Website of Polish movie director - Films - "Love At Twenty"". Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  6. ^ "Les 400 coups et autres aventures d'Antoine Doinel". Retrieved 20 February 2016.
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