American artist Jean Seberg come to Paris from Chicago, hoping to break into the art world and find romance, but her American ways of romantic thinking isn't the Parisian way of thinking. She's idealistic but immature, and being 19, that's understandable so when she encounters the handsome engineer Philippe Forquet, their arguments over what to expect from each other and cultural differences leads to a vicious fight where both parties are hurt. After a dinner party where she is basically ignored for being American, Seberg returns to him, tries to find herself in his way of romantic loving, and this leads to a series of additional encounters that threatens to destroy her dreams as well as other aspects of herself.
Certainly Seberg is lovely, and her character is as complicated as the actress herself. Forquet give her back exactly what she gives to him, and she has to see that she's not in Illinois anymore and her ways aren't necessarily going to be accepted overseas. The sudden twist about who he really is is shocking. Additional romances aide her in growing up, but are pretty inconsequential as far as the film is concerned. The arrival of her father, Addison Powell, makes her take a look at her destructive life that perhaps isn't meant to be lived in a free world like the art community of Paris.
While this is basically a romantic drama, there are some very amusing light-hearted funny moments about the difference in cultures and the difference in genders between the cultures. Forquet is dashing and romantic but macho, yet certainly more appealing than Stanley Baker as a bland British suitor. The film overall is pretty generic and doesn't really make a strong impact. Ironically when Seberg does slap, she doesn't get slapped back, but basically gets a taste of the coldness that comes from such an action. Interesting for a few things but not one that I'll particularly recommend.
Certainly Seberg is lovely, and her character is as complicated as the actress herself. Forquet give her back exactly what she gives to him, and she has to see that she's not in Illinois anymore and her ways aren't necessarily going to be accepted overseas. The sudden twist about who he really is is shocking. Additional romances aide her in growing up, but are pretty inconsequential as far as the film is concerned. The arrival of her father, Addison Powell, makes her take a look at her destructive life that perhaps isn't meant to be lived in a free world like the art community of Paris.
While this is basically a romantic drama, there are some very amusing light-hearted funny moments about the difference in cultures and the difference in genders between the cultures. Forquet is dashing and romantic but macho, yet certainly more appealing than Stanley Baker as a bland British suitor. The film overall is pretty generic and doesn't really make a strong impact. Ironically when Seberg does slap, she doesn't get slapped back, but basically gets a taste of the coldness that comes from such an action. Interesting for a few things but not one that I'll particularly recommend.