Successful writer/director Bernard Rougerie is at a creative dead end and decides to isolate himself from his wife in order to complete the script for his next film. Bernard moves into an apartment building whose tenants are in the midst of a revolt against their abusive landlord. Reluctant at first, he joins their cause and then becomes involved in an affair with young, unemployed resident Anne.
Direction
Tavernier's tender observation of human contradictions
Acting
Piccoli's magnificent midlife crisis physicality
Writing
Sharp satire of artist-hero delusions
Director
Bertrand Tavernier
Michel Piccoli
Bernard Rougerie
Christine Pascal
Anne Torrini
Michel Aumont
Pierre, ami et collaborateur de Bernard
Gérard Jugnot
Marcel Bonfils, le locataire opticien
Arlette Bonnard
Mme Catherine Rougerie, épouse de Bernard
Liza Braconnier
Danièle Joffroy, locataire
Geneviève Mnich
Guite Bonfils, locataire
Michel Berto
Muzard, locataire
Thierry Lhermitte
Stéphane Lecouvette, professeur de mathématiques, locataire
Georges Riquier
Le propriétaire véreux
Gérard Zimmermann
Patrice Joffroy, locataire
Michel Blanc
Agent immobilier véreux
Brigitte Catillon
Valérie
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Made during France's post-1968 disillusionment, the film satirizes radical chic intellectuals who commodified revolution while avoiding real sacrifice.
Tavernier cast Gérard Jugnot before his fame; the laundromat scenes were shot in a working Belleville location with actual residents as extras.
FR
