After SAINT JOAN's failure, Otto Preminger chose the best-selling BONJOUR TRISTESSE, written by Francoise Sagan when she was 18, as a second vehicle for his discovery Jean Seberg, still only 20 years-old.
As with SAINT JOAN, Preminger bullied Seberg during filming and the film's American failure resulted in him ending their three-picture contract.
The film is told in flashback: Cecile is 18, indifferent to her glamourous Parisian life with Raymond, her rich playboy father with his parade of new girlfriends but inside she is tormented by events from the previous summer when they vacationed on the Riviera.
Joined by Raymond's latest mistress, the scatter-brained Elsa, they are suddenly visited by Anne, best friend of Cecile's late mother. Fashion designer Anne has a refined poise which attracts Raymond.
When they announce their engagement, Cecile slowly realises Anne will disrupt her relationship with Raymond and decides to act...
Shelf or charity shop? Sunbathing on the shelf! While not perfect - the clashing of English, American, French and Italian accents strains the ears - BONJOUR TRISTESSE rewards repeat viewings. Jean Seberg has an excellent screen relationship with David Niven but she really impresses when Cecile is faced with Anne's kill-joy personality and becomes a wilful, vengeful teenager. Deborah Kerr is effective as Anne and also enjoys a good partnership with Niven who gives a nicely nuanced performance. Preminger made a good choice to have the 'present-day' Paris scenes shot in cool black & white and the Riviera scenes in lush colour. An odd supporting cast include two nice turns from British actresses Martita Hunt and Jean Kent as two Riviera denizens and a haunting appearance by Juliette Greco. Although Jean's performance was dismissed in English-language reviews, both Francois Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard both praised her; Godard saying that her performance as Cecile easily lead into her role as Patricia in his iconic A BOUT DE SOUFFLE (BREATHLESS).
