Noir et blanc (1986)

Antoine is an accountant, uptight and withdrawn, married to Edith, who picks out his clothes and shoes. He's assigned to a fitness gymnasium for a month to straighten out their books. The ... See full summary »

Director:

Claire Devers

Writer:

Claire Devers

Stars:

Catherine Belkhodja, Marc Berman, Arnaud Carbonnier

2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Catherine Belkhodja	...	Secretary
Marc Berman	...	Roland
Arnaud Carbonnier
Isaach De Bankolé
Francis Frappat	...	Antoine
Joséphine Fresson	...	Edith
Christophe Galland
Jacques Martial	...	Dominique
Claire Rigollier
Benoît Régent

Storyline

Antoine is an accountant, uptight and withdrawn, married to Edith, who picks out his clothes and shoes. He's assigned to a fitness gymnasium for a month to straighten out their books. The owner, M. Roland, encourages Antoine to use the facilities, including the massages, so Antoine goes to Dominique, a muscular African. In these sessions, Antoine discovers that the pain is comforting, and Dominique finds the accountant ideal for his own sadism. When Dominique breaks Antoine's arm and then goes to the hospital to take Antoine away, Antoine confesses his fascination with and fear of death. With Dominique's help, the accountant breaks all earthly ties to confront his fear.

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Plot Keywords:

fitness | bdsm | sadomasochism | love | homosexual | 

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Taglines:

A Story of Sinister Ritual and Silent Desire.

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

19 November 1986 (France)

Also Known As:

Schwarz und Weiß

Company Credits

Production Co:

Forum Productions International, Les Films du Volcan, Ministère de la Culture de la Republique Française

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

User Reviews

A Fascinating Film

"Noir et Blanc," loosely based on a Tennessee Williams story, tells a strange tale. It has a dark atmosphere, which matches the emotional scenario which slowly unfolds. The best way to view this is not to know anything about it, which will provide for maximum interest and fascination. The relationship between the two main characters is extremely interesting; it could be perceived as gay, but it doesn't really qualify, for there is no sex per se between the two. What exactly is it? What does the film really mean? These are questions each viewer must answer for himself. The deliberate black and white photography, shot in a kind of washed out and over exposed imagery perfectly supports the moody tale itself. The film seems to have more levels to it than immediately meets the eye. Again, each viewer's response may be different, yet there is no doubt this film probes deeply into deep-seated passions and complex human relationships.