A solitary man and his partner share a tense love/hate relationship. Their lives are disrupted when a stranger enters, gradually insinuating himself into their world. The stranger’s persistence creates strain, leaving the man with lingering questions about his motivations and the impact on his life.
Acting
Romain Duris vibrates with barely contained rage and need.
Direction
Chéreau turns ordinary spaces into psychological battlegrounds.
Director
Patrice Chéreau
Romain Duris
Daniel
Charlotte Gainsbourg
Sonia
Jean-Hugues Anglade
Le désaxé
Gilles Cohen
Michel
Alex Descas
Thomas
Michel Duchaussoy
Le vieil homme
Tsilla Chelton
La vieille dame
Mika Tard
La serveuse
Yannick Soulier
L'homme de 40 ans
Hiam Abbass
Marie
Fabio Zenoni
Un copain au café
Xavier Robic
Bastien Bernini
Louis Bellanti
Nelly Antignac
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Chéreau adapted this from his own stage play, explaining the suffocating theatricality—every gesture becomes loaded with unspoken threat.
Jean-Hugues Anglade reportedly stayed in character between takes, making the cast genuinely uncomfortable during the shoot.
FR
