The Green Ray (1986)

Romance in cinema has always relied on the transformative potential of a chance encounter. Here, in the fifth of his Comedies and Proverbs series of films, Eric Rohmer explores the frustration of a woman, Delphine (Marie Rivière), whose faith in such serendipity is being tested. Weaving a quietly riveting account of Delphine’s aborted attempts at leaving Paris for a summer holiday, the film addresses her romantic idealism with both wry amusement and deep sympathy.