I was supposed to find this charming, but it's mostly just dull. What I've seen from Rozier suggests he had a gift for capturing the casual, natural conversation of youths but not much else.

with English subs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=or2SIcLfhZU&list=PL2I1Gl32x39xxEOSHpG9x-ujfi2VlLzcr&index=5

Jacques Rozier's first feature, Adieu Philippine, is, to me, French New Wave mumblecore, starring Jean-Claude Aimini as a sort of James Dean analog, not a rebel without a cause, so much as a compliant without a cause. He's set to go do his military service in Algeria soon, even though two girls, are vying for his affections and trying to get him out of it. The whole thing is a hang-out movie where he's rather ambivalent about which girl to pick (which frustrates the two friends because they have a bet going - not the best motivation for love on their end either), just as he's rather ambivalent about his military service, or the money he's owed by a Corsican boss man. Nothing really seems to matter, just go with the flow, things are inevitable, and whatever's easier wins out. Rozier was likely making a political statement about this generation or France at this point, and I appreciate it, but it stills reads as a bunch of flighty spoiled brats partying and arguing, which lost my interest after a while.