The Bakery Girl of Monceau (1962)

In the romantic labyrinth of Monceau, a young man finds himself ensnared by an enigmatic woman he encounters daily. Their fleeting interactions spark an undeniable attraction, and he becomes convinced of her interest in him. However, the elusive woman, Sylvie, mysteriously vanishes, leaving him adrift in a sea of anticipation. He haunts the familiar streets for weeks, his despair growing as deep as his hunger. As the sun sets on his futile search, he finds solace in the comforting warmth of a local bakery. Here, an innocent 18-year-old girl, Jacqueline, serves him cakes with a side of shy curiosity. He finds himself lured in by her unassuming charm, and begins a gentle courtship, a bittersweet distraction from his longing for Sylvie. His actions feel like a betrayal, a scar on his moral compass, but he convinces himself that the fault lies with Jacqueline, not him. As their connection deepens, Jacqueline, with hesitant excitement, agrees to meet him for dinner one evening. But as the hands of fate would have it, just minutes before their rendezvous, the ethereal Sylvie reappears. Now, he must navigate the crossroads of his heart, caught between the familiar allure of Sylvie and the newfound affection for Jacqueline. He is forced to choose between meeting Jacqueline as promised or pursuing the elusive Sylvie. His decision, a moral dilemma, echoes through the cobblestone streets of Monceau, shaping the fates of the three intertwined lives. Will his choice be born of virtue or vice, love or obsession? The echoes of his decision reverberate through Rohmer's captivating moral tale, The Bakery Girl of Monceau.

The Bakery Girl of Monceau is a drama movie featuring Barbet Schroeder.

The Bakery Girl of Monceau is currently streaming on Criterion Channel and TCM.