Barocco (1976)

Director:

André Téchiné

Writers:

André Téchiné
Marilyn Goldin

Release Date:

8 December 1976 (France)

Genre:

Crime | Thriller | Drama | Romance

Plot:

The story of Barocco is about a girl in love with a boxer. They plan to go abroad after making a lot...

Plot Keywords:

Boxing | Beautiful Woman | Identity

Awards:

3 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Isabelle Adjani	...	Laure
Gérard Depardieu	...	Samson / Samson's Killer
Marie-France Pisier	...	Nelly
Jean-Claude Brialy	...	Walt
Julien Guiomar	...	Gauthier
Hélène Surgère	...	Antoinette
Jean-François Stévenin	...	Jeune homme brun
Peter Bonke	...	Acolyte 1
Leny Suck	...	Acolyte 2
Elise Hoomans	...	Mère de Samson
Frans Vorstman	...	Secrétaire
Helmert Woudenberg	...	L'emtraineur
Adrian Brine	...	L'inspecteur
Truus Dekker	...	L'employée
Susan Senduk	...	Serveuse B
Serge-Henri Valcke	...	Barman
Mac Maaldrink	...	Cascadeur
Derek de Lint	...	Propagandeman 1
Claude Brasseur	...	Jules
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Marie-France	...	La chanteuse (uncredited)

Directed by
André Téchiné

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Marilyn Goldin
André Téchiné

Produced by
André Génovès	....	producer
Alain Sarde	....	producer

Original Music by
Philippe Sarde

Cinematography by
Bruno Nuytten

Film Editing by
Claudine Merlin

Production Design by
Ferdinando Scarfiotti

Art Direction by
Benedict Schillemans

Costume Design by
Christian Gasc

Makeup Department
Ronaldo Abreu	....	makeup artist
Chantal Durpoix	....	hair stylist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Alain Centonze	....	assistant director
Hans Kemna	....	assistant director (as Hans Kemma)
Remmelt Remmelts	....	second assistant director

Sound Department
Maurice Gilbert	....	sound mixer
Paul Lainé	....	sound
Jean-Pierre Lelong	....	sound effects editor (as Jean-Pierre le Long)
Jacques Lévy	....	synchronisation

Camera and Electrical Department
Hugo Van Baren	....	grip

Editorial Department
Elisabeth Moulinier	....	assistant editor
Sylvie Quester	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Hubert Rostaing	....	musical director

Other crew
Michèle Andreucci	....	script supervisor
Severo Sarduy	....	amiable participation

Production Companies

• Les Films de la Boétie (co-production)
• Sara Films (co-production)
• Sunchild Productions (presents)

Distributors

• Les Films de la Boétie (1976) (worldwide) (all media) (rights)
• Aventi (2007) (France) (DVD)
• Cinema Ten Corporation (1990) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Robert A. McNeil (1980) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Connossieur Video (1998) (USA) (video) (subtitled)
• Les Films de ma Vie (2002) (France) (DVD)
• Pathfinder Pictures (2003) (USA) (DVD) (PAL)

Other Companies

• Cinetone  studio (as cinetone studios amsterdam)
• La Cinémathèque Verte  footage: animal documentary film
• Les Films Michel François  titles and opticals
• S.I.S.  auditorium

Also Known As:

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:16 | France:-12

Filming Locations:

Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Company:

Les Films de la Boétie

Movie Connections:

References North by Northwest (1959)

Soundtrack:

On se voit se voir

An ambiguous, confused and relentlessly gloomy thriller

Whilst this film does occasionally impress in a few scenes, it is overwhelmingly a major disappointment. The plot is faintly ridiculous, although it might just have been possible, given the right mood and the right actors, to convince the audience that a woman can fall for the murderer of her boyfriend. The trouble is that the film does not seem to have either the right mood or the right actors, and the end result is rather like an unconvincing melee of film noire out-takes.

The acting is noticeably below par throughout, particularly from the lead characters Adjani and Depardieu - all the more surprising that both are now recognised as actors of no mean standing in France. The chemistry between the two lead characters just doesn't feel right, and it looks as if Téchiné made a great error of judgement to cast Depardieu in the role of both Samson and his killer. Certainly, Depardieu makes little effort to differentiate the two characters except by wearing a wig and, as a result, the underlying premise of the plot is lost completely.

However, it is the general mood of the film that is the most irritating aspect of this film. It is just so relentlessly grim and dark that it seems to stifle the plot and imbue the moments of great tension with an air of third-rate melodrama.

It is difficult to believe that, with such a wealth of talent on both sides of the camera, such a film could have failed so badly to hit its mark.