La Guerre est finie

Stylistically, La Guerre est finie is probably Resnais' most orthodox film, covering three days in the life of a Spanish exile in Paris involved in a plot to overthrow Franco. Working from a script by Jorge Semprun, Resnais explores his hero's doubts and insecurities through his relationships with two very different women: a mistress (Thulin) who represents potential stability, and a vivacious young student (Bujold) who offers him a new life. Perhaps it is the film's directness and obviously dated aspects (middle-age male angst faced with effervescent feminine adoration having become such a staple 'art movie' subject) that have made it seem a minor item in an often challenging director's career.