There are a number of very specific genres or recurrent themes in movies that I like a lot. Road movies for example, or wedding comedies (or any of those social criticisms that requires a large ensemble interacting), and for love stories, I like the triangle the most. “Jules et Jim” is one of my favorite films partially because it is a triangle love story – and what a story at that!
“Springtime in a Small Town” is probably the direct opposite of “Jules et Jim”, the female is married and her whole dilemma lies in the fact that she is unable to show her feelings. To me, she comes off a little stand-offish and cold, but at the same time one cannot help but feel pity for her who was once rejected when she was a young girl. The whole movie is much more about her and her misfortune than the feelings of the men who are in love with her.
In that respect, I find the story to be brilliant in its simplicity. It’s so generic that it could come off as boring, but the way it is presented feels very realistic. It’s just unfortunate that I did not like the actors. Every single one of them felt incredibly unreal, the way they were talking (except the little sister) gives off an incredible awkwardness, at least to me. I am quite positive that I would hold the film in much higher esteem if .
Finally, I would not actually recommend the film although I personally liked it to some degree. What the film managed to do however it made me really, really curious about the original Spring in a Small Town. I believe that the film must have been very modern for its time, and I wonder whether it really deserved its many praises.