Why François Truffaut’s 1964 romantic drama was a box office failure but a critical treasure
In short: Following his international triumphs, François Truffaut released The Soft Skin, a stark departure from his earlier work. While audiences initially rejected this tale of a middle-aged writer’s unraveling affair, the film has since been reclaimed as a complex, prophetic masterpiece of the French New Wave that demands a second look.
The Soft Skin follows Pierre Lachenay, a renowned editor and lecturer whose life is upended after he meets a young flight attendant named Nicole. What begins as a chance encounter in Lisbon spirals into a series of clandestine meetings, awkward social frictions, and mounting domestic tension. As Pierre attempts to juggle his professional obligations with his burgeoning affair, the narrative meticulously tracks the erosion of his marriage to his wife, Franca, and the eventual collapse of his relationship with Nicole.
The film’s production, which took place between October 21 and December 31, 1963, utilized locations across Paris, Reims, and Lisbon. Despite the pedigree of its director—who had recently found success with The 400 Blows and Jules and Jim—the film struggled commercially upon its 1964 release. Critics were sharply divided at the time; while some praised its psychological depth, others, such as Stanley Kauffmann, dismissed the plot as trite and the final act as laughably melodramatic.
Decades later, the film’s reputation has undergone a significant transformation. It currently holds an 89% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with many modern critics viewing it as an underappreciated gem. Roger Ebert famously described the work as uncannily prophetic, and it is now frequently cited as one of Truffaut’s most insightful contributions to cinema. The film remains a study in the mundane cruelties of infidelity, culminating in a shocking, violent conclusion that leaves the audience to reconcile the protagonist's intellectual stature with his profound personal failures.
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