Cleo from 5 to 7 (1962)

Cleo, a singer and hypochondriac, becomes increasingly worried that she might have cancer while awaiting test results from her doctor.

Director:

Agnès Varda

Writer:

Agnès Varda

Stars:

Corinne Marchand, Antoine Bourseiller, Dominique Davray

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Corinne Marchand	...	Florence 'Cléo' Victoire
Antoine Bourseiller	...	Antoine
Dominique Davray	...	Angèle
Dorothée Blanck	...	Dorothée (as Dorothée Blank)
Michel Legrand	...	Bob, the Pianist
José Luis de Vilallonga	...	The Lover
Loye Payen	...	Irma, la cartomancienne
Renée Duchateau
Lucienne Marchand	...	La conductrice du taxi
Serge Korber	...	Plumitif (the lyricist)
Robert Postec	...	Le docteur Valineau
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Arthur Brunet

Storyline

Two hours from 17:00 to 19:00h on the longest day of the year in the life of a young Parisienne is presented. Florence Victoire, who is better known by her stage name Cléo Victoire (as in Cleopatra), is a singer with three hit singles to her name, and as such some renown. Two days ago, she went in for some tests for abdominal issues to see if it is cancer. She will be getting the results today at 18:30h. She is certain that it will be a terminal cancer diagnosis, her mind fixated on that outcome and what it actually means. This belief affects how she approaches the day, from her encounters with friends and acquaintances to what she observes in total strangers around her. It could be as simple as how she views the lyrics to new songs presented to her from her songwriting team, to her feelings about a conversation she overhears in a café between a couple having relationship problems, to the typical sweet nothings spoken to her from her lover, José. There are certain things that do ...

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Plot Keywords:

cancer | fear of death | french new wave | color sequence | singer | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Music

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

France Italy

Language:

French

Release Date:

11 April 1962 (France)

Also Known As:

Cleo from 5 to 7

Filming Locations:

Rue du Pont-Neuf, Paris 1, Paris, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ciné Tamaris,Rome Paris Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film is included on Roger Ebert's "Great Movies" list.

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Goofs

The dolly track used in the final shot can be seen as the actors walk away from the hospital. Agnes Varda recounts in the much later documentary 'Anecdotes and Memories' how devastated she was to see the track and convinced the producers to allow a re-shoot at great expense. However none of the retakes matched the emotional quality of the original take so she retained it despite the goof.

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Quotes

Bob, the Pianist, Plumitif (the lyricist): [singing] He plays the cello beautifully, You play the piano well, But I play games with all the boys, And really give them hell, The black and white notes play as you tinkle the keys,
Bob, the Pianist, Plumitif (the lyricist), Florence, 'Cléo Victoire': But all the boys just shout for joy, When I wiggle my hips, When I wiggle my hips,
Bob, the Pianist, Plumitif (the lyricist): He strums a banjo joyfully, You're a genius on the flute,
Bob, the Pianist, Plumitif (the lyricist), Florence, 'Cléo Victoire': But all the males just stand and stare, if I start getting cute...

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Connections

References Un Chien Andalou (1929)

User Reviews

Life and Movement in the shadow of Death

"Cleo from 5 to 7" tells the story of a young French singer, who fears that she may be seriously ill. What could have been maudlin "movie of the week" soap opera, is transformed by Agnes Varda into a unique movie experience.

The film contrasts Cleo's fear of death with the teeming life of the Paris streets, where street entertainers swallow live frogs and puncture their biceps; and the more normal members of the crowd busy themselves with the usual affairs of business and the heart. A large amount of the film takes place outdoors, with Cleo and the people in her life always walking, running or driving. There is a wonderful scene of Cleo-Distraught over an ominous tarot reading by the fortune teller- descending a circular staircase, her shoe heels clicking out a counterpoint to Michel Legrand's pensive music.

Sometimes just watching the way someone moves is very revealing. Director Varda has a fluid camera style which enlivens every scene. As often happens in European art films the story unfolds in a slow undramatic fashion, but their is so much going on in the image and the text, that you don't mind. Essential viewing.