Julien Bouin, a former typographist, and his wife Clemence, who used to perform in a circus, hardly talk to each other in their small house, soon to be demolished. His cat Greffier being the only one he still gives affection to, he becomes the object of Clemence's anger.
Acting
Gabin and Signoret weaponize decades of screen presence.
Writing
Dialogue so sparse it screams.
Production
The crumbling house is the third lead.
Director
Pierre Granier-Deferre
Jean Gabin
Julien Bouin
Simone Signoret
Clémence Bouin
Annie Cordy
Nelly, boss of the Floride hotel
Jacques Rispal
Doctor
Harry-Max
Retiree, ex-colleague of Julien
Carlo Nell
Real estate agent
André Rouyer
Union representative
Nicole Desailly
Nurse
Yves Barsacq
Architect
Renate Birgo
Dairywoman
Ermanno Casanova
Boss of the cafe
Isabel del Río
Girl on the motorcycle
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Jean Gabin and Simone Signoret were French cinema royalty who'd never shared the screen before; their mutual respect supposedly made the on-screen hostility even more electric.
The demolished house was real—Granier-Deferre filmed in a Paris neighborhood being razed for redevelopment, making the physical destruction mirror the emotional.
FR
