Le berceau de cristal (1976)

User Rating:

9.1/10   

Director:

Philippe Garrel

Writer:

Philippe Garrel (writer)

Release Date:

18 May 1976 (France)

Cast

Nico
Dominique Sanda
Anita Pallenberg
Margareth Clémenti
Philippe Garrel
Frédéric Pardo
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Pierre Clémenti	...	(unconfirmed)

Also Known As:

Les noces de cristal (France)

Runtime:

80 min | France:70 min (re-release)

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Trivia:

At one point in the movie, Nico recites the words: "He reminds me of the laughter that has left me going down, and my heart is falling silently into the driving evening sound. Sometimes we must keep from bringing, certain thoughts up to the light; and a matter of the winning in a case of two lips lies". These would later become the lyrics for her son 'Purple Lips' from her album "Drama Of Exile" in 1981.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Le fantôme d'Henri Langlois (2004)

Soundtrack:

Le Sourire Vol

A Morbid Masterpiece! A Feel-Bad Classic!!

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

BEWARE SPOILERS! IN FACT, BEWARE EVERYTHING!

A weird and dreamy minimalist underground art movie, Le Berceau de Cristal offers no joy whatsoever to mainstream film buffs - but doomed romantics, drug takers and fans of director Philippe Garrel may find it hypnotic and profoundly moving. An androgynous poet/dreamer (played by Nico - Velvet Underground singer, Eurotrash icon and Garrel's other half) sits and writes and meditates on the aching void that is her life. Hieratic and semi-mythical beings show up to haunt her dreams. Dominique Sanda as a fleshy Pre-Raphaelite earth goddess. Anita Pallenberg as an impishly grinning, emaciated drug diva - shooting up live on camera. An early icon of 'heroin chic.'

Not one of these figures utters a word to disturb Nico's reverie. Beyond the poet's voice is only silence and an intermittent, achingly lovely music score. (Uncredited, but perhaps the work of Garrel's frequent collaborator, the Velvet Underground guitarist John Cale.) Impossible to say what any of this is about, only that - in the last few seconds - Nico takes out a revolver and blows a hole in her skull. By that time, you may be so bored that you have an overwhelming desire to do the same, or you may be - as I was - curled up in a primal ball, gazing raptly at the screen and silently sobbing.

So if you are a morbid manic-depressive neo-romantic, Le Berceau de Cristal is the film for you. If you value your sanity, stay well clear.