Les Parapluies de Cherbourg (The Umbrellas of Cherbourg)

Jacques Demy, 1964, with Catherine Deneuve
a musical, though without key songs; certainly disorientating at first
at once the singing gives it a bounce, the whole thing a kind of glow
but this isn't completely rose-tinted; the dialogue is pretty naturalistic
pretty kitchen-sink-ish stuff happening
use of music at once gives lives dignity, and demonstrates the slight ridiculousness of the Hollywood musical
use of long takes, floating camera, often mid to long shots
long takes, often only conclude when the camera gets too close
bright, pastel and primary colour colour schemes
each location has its own colours; enhances otherwordly theme
plot is really pretty realist; no sugary ending, without the music this would be pretty depressing at times
a fine, deeply different, piece of work