Directed by:
Max OphülsScreenplay:
Howard KochCinematography:
Franz PlanerComposer:
Daniele AmfitheatrofCast:
Joan Fontaine, Louis Jourdan, Mady Christians, Marcel Journet, Art Smith, Carol Yorke, Howard Freeman, Erskine Sanford, Irene Seidner, William H. O'Brien (more)Plots(1)
In Vienna, about 1900, a dashing man arrives at his flat, instructing his manservant that he will leave before morning: the man is Stefan Brand, formerly a concert pianist, planning to leave Vienna to avoid a duel. His servant gives him a letter from an unknown woman, which he reads. In flashbacks we see the lifelong passion of Lisa Berndle for him: first as a girl who was his neighbor; next as a young woman who, in secret, has his child; then as a mature woman who meets him again and abandons husband and son to be with him. Each time he does not remember who she is or that they have ever met. By morning, he has finished the letter, and her husband awaits satisfaction. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Reviews (1)
A beautiful story about how easy it is to substitute love with something else. Our memory is tricky and plays with us, but only because we often don't want to remember everything. And so we can even forget about the important things. Quite easily at that, which this film demonstrates with incredible gentleness. Love is something that cannot be easily broken, something we cannot describe, but it is here. This is a beautiful message, delivered beautifully.
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