Overwhelmed with infatuation for Julie, Olivia spends the film in an attempt to win her love. This effort often leaves her in tears, which we see by candlelight beside her bed. Yet, whatever glimpse of hope she can find, whether it be sitting next to Julie as she reads, or holding her hand on a train ride back from Paris, Olivia holds on with every bit of her heart.
Olivia daydreams in class often. She falls behind in her studies as a result. She his criticized for her daydreaming, She is aching always for the affection of Mademoiselle Julie. This reviewer especially admires and recommends the dreamlike scenes-- from illustrious balls to quiet studies by the fire, the school seems like an escape one would lust for.
The uniquely queer love triangle of Olivia marks it as a divinely feminine and enchantingly genuine film, in this writer’s view, and worthy of any study in LGBTQ+ history. Note: as many historical films often do, a few lines and scenes in this film contain outdated cultural depictions. These depictions do not take center stage in the film, yet may offend viewers.
From the francophile, to the vintage enthusiast, to the casual viewer in search of some rainy-day representation of LGBTQ+ stories, Olivia is a uniquely thrilling watch. This film is especially recommended to fans of black-and-white cinematography.
