L'ennui (1998)

A philosophy teacher restless with the need to do something with his life meets a young woman suspected of driving an artist to his death. He finds the very simple Cecilia irritating but ... See full summary »

Director:

Cédric Kahn

Writers:

Cédric Kahn (adaptation), Laurence Ferreira Barbosa (adaptation),

Stars:

Charles Berling, Sophie Guillemin, Arielle Dombasle

1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Charles Berling	...	Martin
Sophie Guillemin	...	Cécilia
Arielle Dombasle	...	Sophie
Robert Kramer	...	Meyers
Alice Grey	...	Cécilia's Mother
Maurice Antoni	...	Cécilia's Father
Tom Ouedraogo	...	Momo
Patrick Arrachequesne	...	Doctor
Mirtha Caputi Medeiros	...	Meyers' concierge
Pierre Chevalier	...	University dean
Oury Milshtein	...	Jean-Paul
Anne-Sophie Morillon	...	Agnes
Marc Chouppart	...	Ferdinand
Cécile Reigher	...	Ferdinand's girlfriend
Antoine Beau	...	Pierre

Storyline

A philosophy teacher restless with the need to do something with his life meets a young woman suspected of driving an artist to his death. He finds the very simple Cecilia irritating but develops a sexual rapport with her. Obsessed with the need to own and tormented by her inability to respond to him, he becomes increasingly violent in a quest he can't name - a quest that slowly begins to undermine his certainties.

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Plot Keywords:

philosopher | painter | death | teacher | philosophy teacher | 

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Genres:

Romance | Drama

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Details

Country:

France Portugal

Language:

French

Release Date:

16 December 1998 (France)

Also Known As:

Ania

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$14,064 (USA) (8 October 1999)

Gross:

$36,666 (USA) (15 October 1999)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gemini Films, Ima Films, Madragoa Filmes

Technical Specs

Runtime:

122 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Sophie: Abstinence is turning you sour; give it up.
Martin: I have.
Sophie: Really? Do I know her?
Martin: No, I met her in odd circumstances a few weeks ago.
Sophie: Really? You must be pleased.
Martin: You're quite wrong, I don't like her at all. She's totally uninteresting. I'm trying to get rid of her.
Sophie: Why? Is she ugly?
Martin: Not particularly.
Sophie: Is she stupid then?
Martin: No. Not at all. She never says anything stupid. It's complicated. She bores me. I have no contact with her. Or rather only physical contact.
[...]

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Connections

Version of The Empty Canvas (1963)

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Soundtracks

"Maracaïbo"
Written by Noro Morales, Pickering, Rodriguez
Performed by Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra

User Reviews

Good as light entertainment, unconvincing as a "deep" movie

I came across this movie unexpectedly while watching TV late at night. This is probably the best context you can watch this movie in, as fairly light entertainment, with a story I can generally relate to, a pretty lead actress and a frequency of love scenes that is characteristic only of French art house or Californian porn movies. As a serious film though, "L'ennui" does not manage to pull it off -- probably the classic case of a good book being transformed into a lesser movie. The male character comes across as a schoolboy high on testosterone, not the philosophy teacher he is supposed to be (incidentally a position that exists only in French movies where no one ever has to do any real 9 - to - 5 work), the sex scenes in all their explicitness are curiously prudish (the lovers always appear to do it fully dressed and panting as if they had just completed the Ironman contest), and Cécilia's part is just too one - dimensional. Nevertheless, I found the movie entertaining, and it really made me want to read the book (by Alberto Moravia). And you can't say that about too many movies nowadays, can you?