"A Cause d'Elle" (Because of her) is a film about shy no-nonsense 15-year-old Antoine Hervy (Antoine Hubert), who meets young high brow bourgeoise Olivia (Olivia Munoz) and, as he silently falls in love with her, also falls in love with literature, while we have a glimpse of what growing up in early 60s provincial France was like.
This film, by novelist-writer-director Jean-Loup Hubert, is evidently made with love and delicacy. Young Antoine Hubert (the director's son, I suppose) gives here a sensitive (if one-note), gloomy, tame performance, sort of "nice" version of another "Antoine": the electric, streetwise, obsessive, humorous Antoine Doinel, made immortal by François Truffaut and Jean-Pierre Léaud. Both Antoines have one thing in common, though: they are fools for love.
Unfortunately, there are some major letdowns: first of all -- and I know it's not a nice thing to say -- the leading "demoiselle" Olivia Munoz, who is absolutely wooden and ungracious. We keep wondering why on earth Antoine falls in love with her (although director JLH carefully chose not to show any other girl in the movie so Munoz wouldn't suffer by comparison). In addition, the excessively "delicate" photography and the sad (beautiful) music don't help much. Everything is too soft, too flaccid, too "nice". The politeness of all the characters (in a French film!!) must be seen to be believed: everybody says merci and pardon all the time, the parents are understanding and loving, even the teacher is a doll!!
"À Cause d'Elle" is tender and sensitive, but misses electricity, heat; everything is tepid. By the end of "À Cause d'Elle", you'll probably be longing to watch the other Antoine, the unforgettable Doinel. My vote: 6/10.
