Friday Night (2002)
"Vendredi soir" (original title)

Having packed up her possessions to move in with her lover, Laure is more unsettled than she appears. Needing to get out and have a change of scenery, she jumps in her car to go to have ... See full summary »

Director:

Claire Denis

Writers:

Emmanuèle Bernheim (novel), Emmanuèle Bernheim (screenplay),

Stars:

Valérie Lemercier, Vincent Lindon, Hélène de Saint-Père

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Valérie Lemercier	...	Laure
Vincent Lindon	...	Jean
Hélène de Saint-Père	...	Marie
Hélène Fillières	...	La femme fatiguée
Florence Loiret Caille	...	La jeune fille du flipper (as Florence Loiret-Caille)
Grégoire Colin	...	Le jeune homme en parka
Gilles D'Ambra	...	Le mari de la femme fatiguée
Micha Lescot	...	Le réceptionniste
Gianfranco Poddighe	...	Le maître d'hôtel
Nordine Barour	...	Le serveur
Lionel Goldstein	...	L'acheteur
Didier Woldemard	...	Le chauffeur de la camionnette
Nicolas Struve	...	L'homme de l'accrochage
Jérôme Pouly	...	Le deuxième homme de l'accrochage
Nausicaa Meyer	...	La femme de l'accrochage

Storyline

Having packed up her possessions to move in with her lover, Laure is more unsettled than she appears. Needing to get out and have a change of scenery, she jumps in her car to go to have dinner with friends--only to become stuck in a terrible traffic jam. Laure completely forgot about the mass transit strike that has thrown the city into chaos. But Laure feels good in her car, the only place she has for herself right now. As she takes in the sights and sounds around her--the blare of horns and arguments, the shimmer of lights and camaraderie--Laure notices a calm and self-assured stranger, Jean, approach her car. Soon thereafter, she opens her car door door to the man who--that night--will change her life.

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Plot Keywords:

dinner | traffic jam | stranger | strike | condom | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Details

Official Sites:

Bac Films [fr]

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

11 September 2002 (France)

Also Known As:

Friday Night

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$11,891 (USA) (23 May 2003)

Gross:

$156,918 (USA) (31 October 2003)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Arena Films, Canal+, Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min 90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

User Reviews

Open heart and mind

This movie gets a lot of unjust criticism. People watch this movie expecting some kind of action-filled plot sequence, but this movie is made to convey a feeling; it conveys emotion and does so beautifully. This film conveys lust and some other emotions that don't even have names well, and it can only be known once it has been seen. Don't watch this movie looking for a twisting plot, just look at it as a piece of work that will make you feel... not think. I recommend turning off subtitles and listening to the french. Even if you don't speak it, the words are not important. What's important is that you leave your heart open for emotional stimulation.