This chic pop-opera takes you by surprise at first. Written and directed in 1964 by Jacques Demy, all of its dialogue is sung, including even the most dull conversation, with lines such as "Oh no, the phone bill has arrived!" and "Don’t fret, we’ll transfer that tomorrow" this is hardly a typical Hollywood musical. The uniqueness and shameless romanticism of this movie can stir even the most cynical if they are willing to give it an earnest chance.

Simple yet sophisticated, this is a true young-lovers film that is typical of French cinema, and it is anything but cheesy. Even though it is a musical, Michel Legrand’s score is sentimental and subtle and can hardly be identified with the grandiosity of movies like "Singing in the Rain."

Since most of us are just reading the subtitles anyway, the background of songs is pleasant and heartfelt, rather than nauseating.

The story is simple enough; the protagonist is Genevieve, a young girl (played by Catherine Deneuve, who later starred in Bjork’s Dancer in the Dark), who lives with her mother the owner of an umbrella shop. Genevieve falls in love with Guy, a gas station attendant (played by Nino Castelnuovo) who is drafted for the military. After his absence, Genevieve discovers that she is pregnant and is pushed by her mother to marry another man. Both actors convincingly portray the tragedy of love gone awry.

Contextually, the constant music adds to the surrealistic feel of the movie, as it seems to have been filmed entirely on a soundset – but it wasn’t.

The dominating psychedelic color schemes remind us that at the time, Technicolor was a shade off. The visuals are enough to drive this film; the characters clothes match the vibrant wallpaper patterns behind them, the buildings of Cherbourg are represented in an array of Fauvist tints.

Reality is stretched and the film seems to exist in its own bubble of imagination.

Those who watch the film must stay for the ending. The unexpected simplicity and practicality is reminiscent of the the sensations that the soundtrack incites when the actors sing an aria about what they want to do later in the day.

This movie expresses what might have been an accepted fact of life in a simple, charming tale of the reality of love.

The 91-minute, unrated film also has a complete soundtrack available on vinyl and CD.