Demy had already shattered hearts with The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964), a sung-through tragedy where every note seemed rain-soaked. With Rochefort, he reversed the formula. Here, dialogue scenes are spoken, and songs erupt as joyous, diegetic interruptions—from street pianos to carnival stages. The plot, a carousel of missed connections, follows twin sisters (Deneuve and real-life sister Françoise Dorléac, in her final screen role) who dream of leaving their sleepy Atlantic port town for Paris. Meanwhile, a murder subplot (yes, a murder), a sailor on leave, and a visiting American composer named Andy (Gene Kelly, dancing like a god) all converge in a series of near-misses.
The film’s genius lies in its structure of ironic detachment: Everyone is searching for their ideal love, often standing just yards apart. Demy, who survived the Brittany bombings as a child, understood that life’s cruelties are often mundane—not tragic, just mismatched. Rochefort’s radiant surface is the film’s true darkness: a world so beautiful that pain becomes invisible.
By [Staff Writer]
In the pantheon of film musicals, few movies radiate such unapologetic, sun-drenched joy as Jacques Demy’s 1967 masterpiece, Les Demoiselles de Rochefort (The Young Girls of Rochefort). Yet, beneath its pastel storefronts and choreographed chaos lies a poignant meditation on chance, loneliness, and the elusive nature of happiness. Now, preserved in a stunning 4K digital restoration by the Criterion Collection, Demy’s most vibrant work shines brighter than ever—inviting both first-time viewers and longtime devotees to waltz once more through the fictitious Place des Armes.
If you have only ever seen The Young Girls of Rochefort on a worn VHS tape or a fuzzy television broadcast, you have not seen it. The film’s entire philosophy is built on color. The Young Girls of Rochefort -1967- Criterion -...
Production designer Bernard Evein painted entire city blocks of Rochefort in pastel pinks, yellows, and aquamarines to match the costumes. The 1967 Criterion digital restoration, sourced from a 4K scan of the original 35mm camera negative, is revelatory. The previous home video releases often leaned toward a muddy orange or faded pink. The Criterion edition restores the original Technicolor brilliance.
The Young Girls of Rochefort persists because it is joyful without being shallow; stylized without being abstract. It synthesizes French New Wave sensibilities—playful self-awareness, location shooting, youthful focus—with the spectacle and craftsmanship of classic musicals. Its influence is visible in later filmmakers who combine music, color, and romance with an auteur’s visual precision. Demy had already shattered hearts with The Umbrellas
Beneath the glittering surface, Demy explores fate, repetition, and the small mechanics of romantic choice. The film privileges serendipity: love arrives through overheard songs, missed trains, and mirrored dreams. Demy never cynically undercuts the fairy-tale logic; instead, he relishes it, allowing emotion to feel inevitable without becoming saccharine. There’s a gentle melancholia—especially in moments where lovers nearly meet—which keeps the film grounded.
Director: Jacques Demy Starring: Françoise Dorléac, Catherine Deneuve, Gene Kelly, Michel Piccoli, and George Chakiris. Available on: The Criterion Collection The plot, a carousel of missed connections, follows
While Jacques Demy’s The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) is famous for its tragic, rain-soaked romance, its follow-up, The Young Girls of Rochefort (Les Demoiselles de Rochefort), is a celebration of life, color, and boundless optimism. Released in 1967 and now preserved in stunning high-definition by the Criterion Collection, this film is widely considered one of the greatest movie musicals ever made—and arguably the quintessential "French New Wave Musical."