Sundays and Cybele (1962)
"Les dimanches de Ville d'Avray" (original title)

After killing a child on a routine bombing mission in Vietnam, Pierre suffers from delayed stress and partial amnesia. Returning to France, he lives like a vegetable until he meets a young ... See full summary »

Director:

Serge Bourguignon

Writers:

Serge Bourguignon (scenario), Antoine Tudal (scenario),

Stars:

Hardy Krüger, Nicole Courcel, Patricia Gozzi

Won 1 Oscar. Another 3 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Hardy Krüger	...	Pierre
Nicole Courcel	...	Madeleine
Patricia Gozzi	...	Françoise / Cybèle
Daniel Ivernel	...	Carlos
André Oumansky	...	Bernard
Anne-Marie Coffinet	...	Françoise II
René Clermont	...	Le facteur
Malka Ribowska	...	La voyante (as Malka Ribovska)
Michel de Ré	...	Fiacre
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
France Anglade	...	Lulu
Florence Blot
Paul Bonifas
Serge Bourguignon	...	Le cavalier
Alain Bouvette	...	L'employé de gare
Renée Duchateau	...	L'épicière

Storyline

After killing a child on a routine bombing mission in Vietnam, Pierre suffers from delayed stress and partial amnesia. Returning to France, he lives like a vegetable until he meets a young girl who has been dumped by her father at a boarding school. Posing as her father, Pierre contrives to meet the girl every Sunday, to play with her and perhaps recover his memory. The innocent friendship is misread by nearly everyone, even people who know Pierre well. A classic of old French art films.

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Plot Keywords:

amnesia | post traumatic stress | betrayal | veteran | innocence | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

France Austria

Language:

French

Release Date:

23 November 1962 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cybele

Filming Locations:

Paris Studios Cinéma, Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fidès, Les Films Trocadero, Orsay Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in The 79th Annual Academy Awards (2007)

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Soundtracks

"Concerto for the harpsicord or organ, 6"
Music by George Frideric Handel (as Handel)

User Reviews

I own this film!!!

Hello to all the other lovers of this stupendously beautiful film, wherever you may be in the world. This is not a review as such, other than to say that "Sundays and Cybele" is without doubt the most exquisite, heartbreaking, sublime, delicate, moving and transcendental movie ever created. The purpose of this 'post' is to let you all know that, way down-under here in Melbourne, Australia, I am the fortunate owner of a 16mm cinemas-cope print of this absolute masterpiece. My email address is displayed above. You are welcome to email me personally. If there is ever a possibility that you could get to beautiful Melbourne, I would be proud and delighted to screen the film for you. I myself have resisted the temptation to acquire the film on video...that would seem only to trivialize it, by reducing it to the same size (& therefore stature) as television programs. It is a film to be enjoyed on the big screen and I am doubly fortunate, because there is a small cinema here in Melbourne, seating about 50, which I hire out on those occasions when I can't wait another day to see the film. At the present rate, I screen it about 4 or 5 times a year, sometimes just with myself and 1 other, sometimes with an invited audience of 15 or 20. If at any time any of you readers of this communication would like to take the trouble to journey to Melbourne, Australia, I would gladly run the movie for you, at no cost to you. When I meet you, I will also proudly show you Hardy Kruger's autograph to me, written on an original A4 size poster for the film, which, as a reckless teenager, I stole from its display case on the final day of its big screen season here in Melbourne (in 1964). 14 years later, in 1978, I was lucky enough to meet Hardy when he came to Australia to promote a film he made here ("Storm Boy"). And guess what he said to me when I unrolled the poster and asked if he would sign it? "Ah, my favorite film!!". I am like many of you...I have been haunted, inspired, intoxicated, transported in ecstasy, plunged into the deepest of despair by that extraordinary film ever since. It is an unforgettable encounter with great beauty. Let me know if you can come here to see it. We'll have a wonderful evening. Peter Byrne, Australia.