Pleasure Game (1975)
(Une partie de plaisir)
Country: FR/IT
Technical: col 101m
Director: Claude Chabrol
Cast: Danièle Gégauff, Paul Gégauff, Clémence Gégauff
Synopsis:
An intellectual egotist informs his common-law wife that he has not always been faithful, then encourages her to do the same. When she does, he is hostile towards her choices and becomes overbearing and vindictive.
Review:
One of the master's experiments with a 'drame de couple', like L'enfer (1994), this verbose and distasteful entertainment is unbearable to watch, even if you can stand the almost constant sight of Gégauff's smug features. One of Chabrol's regular collaborators as scenarist, the latter evidently fancied a turn in front of the camera - with the rest of his family to boot. It is one of those bizarre tales of hubris, inhabited by a man who cannot be content with what he has, who manipulates those around him out of boredom, has never done a proper day's work in his life, and thinks himself the centre of the universe. Beginning in one of those typical bourgeois country houses, it then moves to Paris and loses its way somewhat, as the antihero grows increasingly out of touch with reality. Technically unexceptionable, more nudity than usual.
(Une partie de plaisir)
Country: FR/IT
Technical: col 101m
Director: Claude Chabrol
Cast: Danièle Gégauff, Paul Gégauff, Clémence Gégauff
Synopsis:
An intellectual egotist informs his common-law wife that he has not always been faithful, then encourages her to do the same. When she does, he is hostile towards her choices and becomes overbearing and vindictive.
Review:
One of the master's experiments with a 'drame de couple', like L'enfer (1994), this verbose and distasteful entertainment is unbearable to watch, even if you can stand the almost constant sight of Gégauff's smug features. One of Chabrol's regular collaborators as scenarist, the latter evidently fancied a turn in front of the camera - with the rest of his family to boot. It is one of those bizarre tales of hubris, inhabited by a man who cannot be content with what he has, who manipulates those around him out of boredom, has never done a proper day's work in his life, and thinks himself the centre of the universe. Beginning in one of those typical bourgeois country houses, it then moves to Paris and loses its way somewhat, as the antihero grows increasingly out of touch with reality. Technically unexceptionable, more nudity than usual.
(Une partie de plaisir)
Country: FR/IT
Technical: col 101m
Director: Claude Chabrol
Cast: Danièle Gégauff, Paul Gégauff, Clémence Gégauff
Synopsis:
An intellectual egotist informs his common-law wife that he has not always been faithful, then encourages her to do the same. When she does, he is hostile towards her choices and becomes overbearing and vindictive.
Review:
One of the master's experiments with a 'drame de couple', like L'enfer (1994), this verbose and distasteful entertainment is unbearable to watch, even if you can stand the almost constant sight of Gégauff's smug features. One of Chabrol's regular collaborators as scenarist, the latter evidently fancied a turn in front of the camera - with the rest of his family to boot. It is one of those bizarre tales of hubris, inhabited by a man who cannot be content with what he has, who manipulates those around him out of boredom, has never done a proper day's work in his life, and thinks himself the centre of the universe. Beginning in one of those typical bourgeois country houses, it then moves to Paris and loses its way somewhat, as the antihero grows increasingly out of touch with reality. Technically unexceptionable, more nudity than usual.