On the other hand, the theme material lacks depth, and we feel out of touch with the characters, who are not really fully devloped and plausible. However, one only recognizes these shortcomings upon reflection after the viewing, and the viewing itself is thoroughly agreeable . Come to think of it, the spirit of the film is very well aligned to the style of the Baroque novels themselves, which is more about mannerism and a wry sense of humor than realism and psychological depth. A very nice period adaptation.
Tips: the recurring theme music, a motif of delicate beauty, at times sweet, and at times haunting, is from Schubert's Piano Trio in E-Flat. A good rendition is by the Beaux Art quartet. Otherwise the set performance with Grimaux is also excellent.
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