ðə fˈɪlmz dᵻlˈɪbɚɹət ˌɑːɹɾɪfˌɪʃɪˈælᵻɾi, aɪɹˈɑːnɪk vˈɪʒən ʌv jˈuːθfəl vˈælɚ, ænd fɹˈiːkwəntli ʃˈɪftɪŋ nˈæɹətˌɪv mˈoʊdz pɹɪvˈɛnt ɪmˈoʊʃənəl ɐtˈætʃmənt tə ðə stˈoːɹi wˌaɪl lˈiːvɪŋ spˈeɪs fɚɹə mˈoːɹ sɚɹˈiːbɹəl ɛŋɡˈeɪdʒmənt wɪððɪ ˈɛlɪmənts ʌv stˈɔːɹɪtˌɛlɪŋ ɹˈoʊmɚ hɐz ɪntˈɜːpɹɪɾᵻd fɹʌm twˈɛlfθsˈɛntʃɚɹi lˈɪɾɚɹᵻtʃɚ.
The film's deliberate artificiality, ironic vision of youthful valor, and frequently shifting narrative modes prevent emotional attachment to the story while leaving space for a more cerebral engagement with the elements of storytelling Rohmer has interpreted from 12th-century literature.