Le feu follet (1963)

Director:

Louis Malle

Writer:

Pierre Drieu La Rochelle (novel)

Release Date:

7 October 1966 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Alain Leroy is having a course of treatment in a private hospital because of his problem with alcohol...

Plot Keywords:

Alcoholism | Versailles France | Paris France | Suicide | Depression

Awards:

2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Maurice Ronet	...	Alain Leroy
Léna Skerla	...	Lydia
Yvonne Clech	...	Mademoiselle Farnoux
Hubert Deschamps	...	D'Averseau
Jean-Paul Moulinot	...	Dr. La Barbinais
Mona Dol	...	Madame La Barbinais
Pierre Moncorbier	...	Moraine
René Dupuy	...	Charlie (as René Dupuis)
Bernard Tiphaine	...	Milou
Bernard Noël	...	Dubourg
Ursula Kubler	...	Fanny
Jeanne Moreau	...	Eva
Alain Mottet	...	Urcel
François Gragnon	...	François Minville
Romain Bouteille	...	Jerome Minville

Also Known As:

A Time to Live and a Time to Die (UK)
The Fire Within (USA)
Will o' the Wisp (International: English title)

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Argentina:16 | UK:12 (DVD rating) | UK:15 (re-rating) (1992) | UK:X (original rating) | West Germany:18 (bw)

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Company:

Nouvelles Éditions de Films (NEF)

Trivia:

For the first two days, filming was done in color. However, director Louis Malle realized that this was a distraction from the story, so he decided to film in black-and-white.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: As Alain walks on the streets of Paris, the crew (pushing the dolly) is visible on the shop windows he passes by.

Quotes:

Alain Leroy: The sensitivity was in my heart, not my hands.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

LOTS of gray.

"The Fire Within" (French, 1963): Directed by Louis Malle, scored by Eric Satie. This is a perfect visual reason to use black and white with tons of gray. It is two days in the life of a young, popular man who has returned to his acquaintances, friends and ex-lovers, after vanishing into a program for alcoholics…a program he found comforting, and did NOT want to leave. He searches through his relationships for a reason to continue his life, whether as-is or anew…but overriding any thoughts of the future is his current state of total depression. His friends continued their lives during his absence, they continue their fast-paced, challenging repartee during his visits, and they will clearly continue after his leaving. "The Fire Within" is a quiet, observational film, interrupted only for conversations that seem to have substance, yet offer no solutions. It has one goal, and meets it very well.