Strange Affair (1981)
"Une étrange affaire" (original title)

Louis Coline assists the head of advertising of a department store in decline. He has little to do, but seems content with his marriage to Nina, his visits to his mother and grandmother, ... See full summary »

Director:

Pierre Granier-Deferre

Writers:

Christopher Frank, Pierre Granier-Deferre,

Stars:

Michel Piccoli, Gérard Lanvin, Nathalie Baye

4 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michel Piccoli	...	Bertrand Malair
Gérard Lanvin	...	Louis Coline
Nathalie Baye	...	Nina Coline
Jean-Pierre Kalfon	...	François Lingre
Jean-François Balmer	...	Paul Belais
Pierre Michaël	...	Gérard Doutre
Madeleine Cheminat	...	Yvette, la grand-mère de Louis
Victor Garrivier	...	Le père de Nina
Dominique Blanchar	...	La mère de Louis
André Chaumeau
Jacques Boudet	...	M. Blain, le chef du personnel
Ariane Lartéguy	...	Salomé
Nicolas Vogel	...	René
Dominique Zardi	...	Gruault, chef des contentieux
Humbert Balsan	...	Jean-Loup

Storyline

Louis Coline assists the head of advertising of a department store in decline. He has little to do, but seems content with his marriage to Nina, his visits to his mother and grandmother, and poker games with friends. When new boss Bernard Malair arrives to turn the store around, Louis fears for his job; but Bernard, with his numbers man Paul and his factotum François, invites Louis into an inner circle of long hours of work, nightclubs, and dinners with an androgynous vamp. Nina objects, but Louis cannot say no to Bernard's demands, no matter how personal. In desperation, Nina leaves Louis, but that drives him further into Bernard's orbit. Can anything break this spell?

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Plot Keywords:

advertising | company | based on novel

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

23 December 1981 (France)

Also Known As:

Strange Affair

Company Credits

Production Co:

Films A2, Sara Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Color:

Color

User Reviews

Monarchy in 1981... still works today.

This film is shy, one of those you'll fall over on a sleepless night, on an obscure TV station. And you'll find yourself attracted by its awkward mood and characters (check Jean Pierre Kalfon's performance, amazing here). Truth is, "une étrange affaire" is an "étrange" masterpiece, and I'm not ashamed to say it could have been a Kubrick film in the way it depicts extremely accurately the relationship between a king and his court, and the behaviour of mind bent court followers and how this relationship can work today, in a democracy. Piccoli is at his best, so are Balmer and Kalfon (two very under used and rated french actors) and this is probably Lanvin's best flick (that's if you're a fan of the guy). The film is cruel, and shows how easily a man can get his mind twisted, be it by a ceo or out of a "big company" context, anyone standing on any upper level and how weak and cheap the ways to use are. On that sleepless night, try to stay awake, you won't regret it, even at 4.00 AM.