Bay of Angels is a 1963 French film directed by Jacques Demy. Claude Mann ( Jean ) and Jeanne Moreau ( Jacqueline ) are the main actors.
The Main Story
Bay of Angels delves into the minds of gamblers where not only does a romance develop between two people but a deeply rooted romance for a Roulette wheel. The narrative revolves around gambling which also becomes this gambling movies central theme.
Jean, a young bank clerk, becomes addicted to gambling through a co-worker. He decides to vacation in the South of France, where he meets and falls in love with Jacqueline. Jacqueline is a manipulative, selfish, vulgar woman but at the same time somewhat charming and if given a chance would sell her own if it meant she could have another shot at the Roulette table.
On the other hand, Jean is dour and humourless and sometimes resorts to violence when he fears losing Jacqueline’s. Jacqueline was previously married and told Jean this. From the conversation, it is evident she isn’t wife mother or lover material. Instead, her ears and heart are attuned to the shuffling of cards, clinking of chips and the spinning of the Roulette Wheel. She’s wildly in love and obsessed with gambling and will stake everything. In contrast, Jean enjoys the casino but knows when to walk away because unlike Jacqueline, money is not his disease. His love for her is that she will one day embrace him as she does the Roulette ball.
The Ending
Bay of Angels ending is unusual coming as an improbably diamond bow. Jacqueline rebuffs Jean whilst sitting at the Roulette table, and he leaves the casino. She notices that he has left and runs out after him, an ironic turn of events. They embrace and walk away hand in hand, making one believe she had turned her back on gambling for love, a tad unbelievable especially from a woman who felt no remorse when she abandoned her son for gambling.