The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
Demy is perhaps best known for his original musical "Les Parapluies de Cherbourg" ("The Umbrellas of Cherbourg", 1964), with a score by Legrand. The whimsical concept of singing all the dialogue sets the tone for this tragedy of the everyday. The film also sees the emergence of Demy's trademark visual style, shot in saturated supercolour, with every detail—neckties, wallpaper, Catherine Deneuve's bleached-blonde hair—selected for visual impact. Roland Cassard, the young man from "Lola" (Marc Michel) reappears here, marrying Deneuve's character. Such reappearances are typical of Demy's work. Kurt Vonnegut was a huge fan of "Les Parapluies", writing in private correspondence: "I saw "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg", which I took very hard. To an unmoored, middle-aged man like myself, it was heart-breaking. That's all right. I like to have my heart broken."