JCM312/French Modernism: Jean-Luc Godard & Bertolt Brecht (Discussion)

1. Group 2: How is Rohmer using the word, "moral"? How is morality portrayed in Chloé?
2. Group 3: What is meant by "courtly love," in the context of Rohmer's films?
3. Group 4: Monaco states that le pari ("the bet") is "the encompassing metaphor that Rohmer wants for the entire series" (p. 297). And he emphasizes "Pascal's wager" (see Wikipedia: "...posed by the French philosopher Blaise Pascal that even though the existence of God cannot be determined through reason, a person should "wager" as though God exists, because so living has potentially everything to gain, and certainly nothing to lose.").
   • What ethical/existential issues does that wager/bet raise? Do you see them in Chloé?
4. Group 1: In a footnote (p. 304), Monaco quotes Rohmer saying, "The men in my films are not meant to be particularly sympathetic characters." Is Frédéric a sympathetic character? Provide evidence from the film to support your interpretation. How do you interpret his fantasy sequence?

Frédéric's fantasy.