The Romance of Astrea and Celadon - 32nd HKIFF

Moral issue seems to be one of the favour topics which Eric Rohmer likes to deal with in his film, usually through a romantic relationship between young people. Whether one should be faithful to their love, or whether it is right or wrong to choose a partner knowing that it would hurt others. His long conversation/dialogue between characters in his film was also one of his trademarks, and certainly he wants to keep it this way in “The Romance of Astrea and Celadon”. Rather than working on a contemporary background, this is a simple love story about a young couple’s struggles during the 16th Century. At the surface, the idealistic value, if not the old fashioned value of love and faithfulness seems to be upheld here, with characters openly declare their “pure” definition of love (goes as far as setting up a small outdoor temple to celebrate love). Against today’s value and moral standard, it almost becomes all out “comedy” as the protagonist held up tight with their pure belief that “true” love never died as long as they keep faith, and somewhat their subtleness. While the film can be still be enjoyable one because of those immaturities (and their idealistic thinking), their action (or inaction) actually slowed the flow of the story at times. Nonetheless, the film could serve as a reflection about how we view love/morality nowadays verses their traditional counterpart. It may well be just because of this; it makes the film become a delightful, charming study of this pure love.