Autumn Tale

By RICHARD CORLISS

He will be 80 next year, but France's premier romantic movie poet still has the industry and verve of a clever schoolboy--an honor student in the philosophy of the boudoir. In this delicious comedy a happily married bookseller (Marie Riviere) acts as matchmaker for her vintner friend (Beatrice Romand). Here is a film attentive to the generosity of friendship, the cruelty of courtship. As Riviere says, "I want all men to love me, especially those I don't love." But she, Romand and young ravisher Alexia Portal give viewers plenty to love. Modestly profound, Autumn Tale has the savor of a great wine from a small vineyard.

--R.C.