L'argent (1983)

Director:

Robert Bresson

Writers:

Robert Bresson (writer)
Leo Tolstoy (short story "Faux billet")

Release Date:

18 May 1983 (France)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

A forged 500-franc note is cynically passed from person to person and shop to shop, until it falls into...

Plot Keywords:

Note | Murder | Burglary | Sleeping Pills | Priest

Awards:

3 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Christian Patey	...	Yvon Targe
Vincent Risterucci	...	Lucien
Caroline Lang	...	Elise
Sylvie Van den Elsen	...	Grey Haired Woman
Michel Briguet	...	Grey Haired Woman's Father
Béatrice Tabourin	...	La photographe
Didier Baussy	...	Le photographe
Marc Ernest Fourneau	...	Norbert
Bruno Lapeyre	...	Martial
François-Marie Banier
Alain Aptekman
Jeanne Aptekman	...	Yvette
Dominique Mullier
Jacques Behr
Gilles Durieux
Alain Bourguignon
André Cler	...	Père de Norbert
Claude Cler	...	Norbert's Mother
Anne de Kervazdoué
Bernard Lamarche-Vadel
Pierre Tessier
Eric Franklin
Jean-Louis Berdot
Yves Martin
Luc Solente
Valérie Mercier
Alexandre Pasche
Jean-Michel Coletti
Stéphane Villette

Directed by
Robert Bresson

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Robert Bresson		writer
Leo Tolstoy		short story "Faux billet" (as Tolstoï)

Produced by
Antoine Gannagé	....	executive producer
Jean-Marc Henchoz	....	producer
Daniel Toscan du Plantier	....	producer

Cinematography by
Pasqualino De Santis
Emmanuel Machuel

Film Editing by
Jean-François Naudon

Production Design by
Pierre Guffroy

Costume Design by
Monique Dury

Production Management
Richard Dupuy	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Olivier Péray	....	first assistant director

Sound Department
Jean-Marc Lentretien	....	sound mix technician
Jacques Maumont	....	sound mixer
Jean-Louis Ughetto	....	sound engineer
Luc Yersin	....	sound engineer

Camera and Electrical Department
Michel Abramowicz	....	first assistant camera

Music Department
Johann Sebastian Bach	....	composer: additional music

Production Companies

• Eôs Films
• France 3 Cinéma
• Marion's Films

Distributors

• AMLF (1983) (France) (theatrical)
• Artfree (2009) (Greece) (theatrical) (re-issue)
• Accent Film Entertainment (2005) (Australia) (DVD)
• Al!ve AG (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
• Artificial Eye
• Cinecom Pictures (1984) (USA) (subtitled)
• Kinokuniya (2002) (Japan) (DVD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2009) (Australia) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

85 min | Argentina:87 min (Mar del Plata Film Festival)

Country:

France | Switzerland

Language:

French | Latin

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Iceland:14 | West Germany:16 | Portugal:M/12

Company:

Eôs Films

Trivia:

Last film directed by Robert Bresson.

Quotes:

Yvon Targe:[to the guy who sent him to jail] You have me on your conscience. You have to answer for that now.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Road to Bresson (1984)

one of the most efficient films ever

Bresson's last film is one of his best. He leaves no room for anything extra. There are no more dissolves, no more music (just his brilliant soundtrack). He moves through so many many facets of society so quickly, efficiently and daringly. Today's filmmakers should learn a lesson with their 2 hour films which never get to the point.

You will never forget the car chase scene, where he as usual builds so much through the soundtrack. And the dog, roaming from room to room in a pinnacle scene is revolutionary.

Money corrupts, then and now, and his attack on french society was maybe another reason he was never given funding for his films.

Bresson's ability to show humanity, surprise, horror and complexity reminds of his hero Doestovesky and in this case Tolstoy.

The ending, the final scene and shot, pierces your soul.