102 Boulevard Haussmann (17 Feb. 1991)

In 1916 author Marcel Proust is leading a reclusive life in Paris. He hires a quartet of musicians and befriends one of them, a wounded serviceman.

Director:

Udayan Prasad

Writer:

Alan Bennett

Stars:

Alan Bates, Paul Rhys, Janet McTeer

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Alan Bates	...	Marcel Proust
Paul Rhys	...	Amable Massis
Janet McTeer	...	Celeste
Jonathan Coy	...	Odilon
Gillian Martell	...	Concierge
Philip Rham	...	Gaston Poulet
Michael Wilcox	...	Victor Gentil
Peter Geeves	...	Louis Ruyssen
Philip McGough	...	Dr. Bize
Celia Imrie	...	Madame Massis
Michael Grandage	...	Paul Morand
Lesley Nightingale	...	Princess Soutzo
Richard Syms	...	Head waiter
Ben Buckton	...	Petain (as Benjamin Buckton)

Storyline

In 1916 author Marcel Proust is leading a reclusive life in Paris. He hires a quartet of musicians and befriends one of them, a wounded serviceman.

---

Plot Keywords:

historical event

---

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 February 1991 (UK)

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), La Sept

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

Marcel Proust: I apologize for the lift. It dates from the period before lifts were invented.

---

Soundtracks

"Sonata In A Major"
(uncredited)
Music by César Franck

User Reviews

Strong performances, a quiet, subtle script

A terrific, performance by Alan Bates and strong supporting ones by Janet McTeer and Paul Rhys anchor this quiet, understated study of a few months in the life of writer Marcel Proust during WW I.

This Proust is fragile and eccentric, ironically seemingly blithely disconnected from the sufferings of those around him, while at the same time writing his works of insight into the human mind and heart. Yet, as the film goes on, we become more aware that Proust's seeming lack of empathy is as much a defense mechanism against his own sadness and loneliness as they are an unintentional cruel streak.

The piece is by nature a bit chilly, and the emotions to be found are of the quiet, subtle variety. Yet there is also something haunting about it in the end. It's one of those pieces that's lingered in my mind more strongly and positively than I would have expected based on my more mixed reaction while watching it.