Anna

A bizarre oddity from 1967 French television. Serge Gainbourg wrote and scored this musical for Anna Karina, one time wife of Jean Luc Goddard. There are many surreal touches that are horribly dated but after discovering that this was the first colour production on French television, they become understandable. The main thrust of the film is Serge's (Jean-Claude Brialy) search for Anna, who is mistakenly photographed as she disomunts from a train as she arrives in Paris hoping to find a soulmate. Unfortunately she wears thick glasses so the picture of her makes her difficult to find. His obsession grows as he realises this is love at first sight and this is all-consuming. He doesn't realise she works in his company's building and even has a few encounters with her, not recgnising her. She knows he's looking for the girl in the picture, but doesn't realises it's her and she is sad because she is falling for him. As the film progresses both characters get lost in their misery.

It is easy to see how this became a French favourite, it has immense (sometimes intense) charm and it draws you in to root for the star-crossed lovers. The music is brilliant (and is now firmly in place in the car stereo) and includes many numbers that refuse to budge from your brain. Top song is Roller Girl where Anna dances maddly as she imagines herself a wild child. Both leads play their part marvellously but the film belongs to Anna Karina whose cutenss, carefree ways and melancholia will stay with you forever.