La vieille qui marchait dans la mer

The Benefice of Jeanne Moreau

The history of cinema knows many examples of a mediocre crime-comedy films. «La vieille qui marchait dans la mer» is rather mediocre, except for the leading role – Jeanne Moreau.

Lady M. is an old con artist, who tries to save her wading beauty, but still keeps her great charm. Along with her ex-lover Pompilius, she travels to the resorts and blackmails rich tourists. During one of those «business trips», she gets a crush on a young lifeguard and immediately brings him into the business.

This, at the first glance short, crush completely changes the life of Lady M. Incapable of physical love; she tries to feel it by watching Lambert’s acts with young girls. Lady M. starts to behave as a spoiled young girl: brags about having 2017 lovers; beats Lambert with a cane and immediately begs forgiveness; teaching the secrets of con artists and advising how to behave with girls.

Jeanne Moreau proves that the age means nothing for the truly great artist – she will electrify at the age of 20, 30, 60 and 80. The Actress has created interesting and charming con artist by the means of voice acting, facial expression, voiceover and her unique magic. The one could see in Lady M. the little self-irony of Jeanne Moreau.

In other aspects, this film is far from brilliant. Michel Serrault – another great French actor, - created the only interesting character, except for Lady M. Luc Thuillier is good as Lambert, but he is lost in the shadow of two great actors.

«La vieille qui marchait dans la mer» is a mediocre film, which is watchable only because of Jeanne Moreau. If you a Moreau’s fan, then watch it.

7/10 (+1 for Moreau by applying the legal principle «Any reasonable doubt shall be interpreted in favor of the defendant»)