Va Savoir (Who Knows?) (2001)
"Va savoir" (original title)

Quick-witted, well-read cultured types revolve around each other in a delightful potpourri of theatre, romanticism and theft.

Director:

Jacques Rivette

Writers:

Pascal Bonitzer (scenario), Christine Laurent (scenario),

Stars:

Jeanne Balibar, Marianne Basler, Hélène de Fougerolles

3 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jeanne Balibar	...	Camille B.
Marianne Basler	...	Sonia
Hélène de Fougerolles	...	Dominique 'Do'
Catherine Rouvel	...	Madame Desprez
Sergio Castellitto	...	Ugo
Jacques Bonnaffé	...	Pierre
Bruno Todeschini	...	Arthur
Claude Berri	...	Librarian
Attilio Cucari	...	Salter
Bettina Kee	...	Mop
Luciana Castellucci	...	Lena
Emanuele Vacca	...	Salesio
Arturo Armone Caruso	...	Bruno
Valeria Cavalli	...	Ines
Fausto Maria Sciarappa	...	Silvio

Storyline

The theatre world is a familiar setting for the films of Rivette. In Va savoir, the characters, all quick-witted, well-read and cultured types, revolve around each other in a delightful potpourri of theatre, romance and theft. In the end, everything lands on its feet and they all get the partner they deserve, but before then, long filmer Rivette takes two and a half hours to dwell lightly on the vicissitudes around the six protagonists. Camille is an actress with an Italian company that is in Paris to perform a play by Pirandello, Come tu mi vuoi. Her boyfriend Ugo is the director and the company's most important actor. Both have a hidden agenda for their trip to Paris: Camille meets her ex Pierre, a professor of philosophy, while Ugo is secretly researching a supposedly lost play by Goldoni. In the archives, he is assisted by the charming student Do, who steals his heart. In turn, Do has a link with Pierre: her stepbrother, the playwright Arthur, namely steals an expensive ring from ...

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Plot Keywords:

actress | italian | ring | theft | rendezvous | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for brief nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Pictures Classics

Country:

France Italy Germany

Language:

French Italian

Release Date:

10 October 2001 (France)

Also Known As:

Va Savoir (Who Knows?)

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$43,010 (USA) (28 September 2001)

Gross:

$907,323 (USA) (29 March 2002)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Pierre Grise Productions, France 2 Cinéma, V.M. Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

220 min 220 min (director's cut)

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

A child and a bicycle in the background disappears between shots in the park.

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Quotes

Cammille B.: I really should calm down. I knew this would happen. It was coming. I should have said no, not a chance, not Paris. Even three years later, I can't.

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Connections

References As You Desire Me (1932)

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Soundtracks

"Senza Fine"
Written by Gino Paoli / Alec Wilder
Sung by Peggy Lee
Performed by Lou Levy (piano)
John Pisano (guitar)
Charles Berghofer (bass)
Stan Levey (drum)
Avec l'autorisation de BMG Music Vision et d'EMI Music France

User Reviews

Long,but worth seeing

Va savoir is a film that could be skipped by someone living in New

York City, Chicago, or Los Angeles. We get only a handful of

French films each year in Upstate New York, and I try to see them

all. At 154 minutes, this movie does tend to run on. Still, the

legendary Jacques Rivette is known for his l*o*n*g running times;

he probably considers this 2 1/2 hour film to be a short.

I have noticed that the great majority of people who rated the film

are men. This surprises me, because there is nothing about Va

Savoir that would make it a traditionally "men's film." I would think

people of either gender would be pleased that all three female

leads are presented as capable women leading productive

lives--actor, dance teacher, graduate student. Rivette has chosen

three women who are fascinating to watch on the screen; this to

me was the strength of the film. I think the men fared less well--in

fact, it is hard to believe that three such competent and attractive

women would be drawn to men who appeared (at least to me) to

be far inferior to them. (One character--Arthur--probably has

anti-social personality disorder, is a compulsive gambler and has

incestuous feelings towards his sister. Other than that he's OK.)

My suggestion--don't go to this film expecting "Rules of the Game," but see it because it is French, it is directed by Jacques Rivette,

and it gives ample screen time to three excellent female actors.