Although we note the same good eyes for details, "Soft Skin" is not a good Truffaut. What we are missing here is the director's hallmark irony and sardonic witticism, facing what is (inevitably) Absurd in romance. The wife's face shows great strength of character, and the man is weak and pathetic, as usual, but not in the puppy-ish, child-like ways in other Truffauts. There is little humor, and not enough background as to whether there is a pattern of philandering, or other aspects of the man's and the woman's character that can explain, first of all, why they are man and wife to start with; and second, why the abrupt tragic end.
A few things to look out for:
- The kitty in the breakfast tray;
- the leopard skin conversation;
- the extraordinarily inane conversation of the women.
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