Sundays and Cybele (1962)

In French with English subtitles | Directed by Serge Bourguignon (1928 - )

Black-and-white | Available on DVD

Note: a few minor spoilers ahead. This is a very sad film. At the same time it is unforgettable. Hardy Krüger (1928 - ) plays Pierre, a veteran war pilot who suffers from amnesia after a plane crash. The opening scene is a flashback to this accident, where a young girl was killed. Pierre it appears has lost his zest for life, and doesn't get out much. His live-in girlfriend Madeline, a nurse, remains devoted to him even when he shows little affection. Madeline keeps hoping that he will get better soon.

One day he meets a young named Cybele, and orphan who lives in a Catholic boarding school in a Paris suburb. It's as if fate brought these two broken souls together (or is it fate?), and they are almost like soul mates (or are they?). Pierre poses as her father so he could take her out to the park on Sundays.

Cybelle is played by Patricia Gozzi (1950 - ) in a standout performance

Pierre becomes consumed with playing the role of an older familial figure, and this becomes his new purpose in life. Cybele also has a renewed sense of life and becomes attached to him as well, and even becomes restless when he misses a visit. One day she shares that she has romantic feelings about marrying him when she gets older, which really causes some emotional conflicts. One of the most interesting moments of the film comes when a group of young children ask Cybele to play with them in the park. We see her happiness shine as she's playing a game of tag with a group of boys and girls, perhaps for the first time in her life. It's a special moment in the film, almost a realization of what she has been missing in her life.

Pierre's character is a bit more complex. Is his new found role fulfilling him? Does he know how to handle it and his relationship with Madeline? Is Madeline more of a mother figure to him, someone he wants to avoid now? Pierre doesn't talk very much. We know that he's been wounded physically and emotionally, but we don't know to what extent. Nor do we know if he has had mental issues prior to the war. He doesn't mention Cybele to Madeline, but she finds out gradually over time, and when she does, the movie really gets interesting and more complicated.

Madeline is played by Nicole Courcel (1931 - )

This movie really captivated me from start to finish, and I was always wondering what would happen next.