La Collectionneuse is a 1967 French film directed by Éric Rohmer. It tells the story of Adrien, a wealthy and charismatic art dealer, and Daniel, his friend and aspiring painter, who rent a villa on the French Riviera for the summer. They plan to use the villa as a quiet and relaxing retreat, but their plans are disrupted when Haydée, a young and beautiful woman, shows up unexpectedly.
Haydée is accused of being a "collector" of men, someone who seduces and discards lovers without remorse. Adrien sees her as an opportunity to add another conquest to his list of conquests, while Daniel falls under her spell and becomes infatuated with her.
As the summer progresses, tensions rise between the three characters as they navigate their complicated feelings and desires. Adrien and Haydée engage in a tumultuous and often cruel power struggle, while Daniel remains caught between his loyalty to his friend and his growing attraction to Haydée.
The film is a portrait of a certain type of French bohemianism in the 1960s, with its themes of sexual desire, power dynamics, and artistic self-discovery. It is shot in black and white and features stunningly beautiful cinematography of the French Riviera, adding to the film's dreamy and contemplative atmosphere.
La Collectionneuse is part of Rohmer's "Six Moral Tales" series, which explore themes of moral ambiguity and human relationships in a variety of settings and contexts. It is considered a landmark of French New Wave cinema and continues to be celebrated for its complex characterizations and nuanced exploration of desire and longing.