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IMDbPro

Virvatuli

Original title: Le feu follet
  • 19631963
  • K-16K-16
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
9.6K
YOUR RATING
Virvatuli (1963)
Watch Bande-annonce [OV]
Play trailer1:28
1 Video
59 Photos
Drama

Depressed Alain Leroy leaves the clinic where he was detoxified. He meets friends, acquaintances and women, trying to find a reason to continue living. Will this help him?Depressed Alain Leroy leaves the clinic where he was detoxified. He meets friends, acquaintances and women, trying to find a reason to continue living. Will this help him?Depressed Alain Leroy leaves the clinic where he was detoxified. He meets friends, acquaintances and women, trying to find a reason to continue living. Will this help him?

IMDb RATING
7.9/10
9.6K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Louis Malle
  • Writers
    • Pierre Drieu La Rochelle(based on the novel by)
    • Louis Malle(adaptation)
  • Stars
    • Maurice Ronet
    • Léna Skerla
    • Yvonne Clech
  • Director
    • Louis Malle
  • Writers
    • Pierre Drieu La Rochelle(based on the novel by)
    • Louis Malle(adaptation)
  • Stars
    • Maurice Ronet
    • Léna Skerla
    • Yvonne Clech
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 46User reviews
    • 60Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 2 nominations

    Videos1

    Bande-annonce [OV]
    Trailer 1:28
    Watch Bande-annonce [OV]

    Photos59

    Virvatuli (1963)
    Virvatuli (1963)
    Virvatuli (1963)
    Virvatuli (1963)
    Hissillä mestauslavalle (1958)
    Louis Malle in Hissillä mestauslavalle (1958)
    Maurice Ronet in Virvatuli (1963)
    Virvatuli (1963)
    Virvatuli (1963)
    Virvatuli (1963)
    Virvatuli (1963)
    Virvatuli (1963)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Maurice Ronet
    Maurice Ronet
    • Alain Leroy
    Léna Skerla
    Léna Skerla
    • Lydia
    Yvonne Clech
    • Mademoiselle Farnoux
    Hubert Deschamps
    Hubert Deschamps
    • D'Averseau
    Jean-Paul Moulinot
    • Dr. La Barbinais
    Mona Dol
    • Madame La Barbinais
    Pierre Moncorbier
    Pierre Moncorbier
    • Moraine
    René Dupuy
    • Charlie
    • (as René Dupuis)
    Bernard Tiphaine
    • Milou
    Bernard Noël
    • Dubourg
    Ursula Kubler
    Ursula Kubler
    • Fanny
    Jeanne Moreau
    Jeanne Moreau
    • Eva
    Alain Mottet
    • Urcel
    François Gragnon
    • François Minville
    Romain Bouteille
    • Jérôme Minville
    Jacques Sereys
    • Cyrille Lavaud
    Alexandra Stewart
    Alexandra Stewart
    • Solange
    Claude Deschamps
    • Maria
    • Director
      • Louis Malle
    • Writers
      • Pierre Drieu La Rochelle(based on the novel by)
      • Louis Malle(adaptation) (uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      For the first two days, filming was done in color. However, director Louis Malle realized that this was a distraction from the story, so he decided to film in black-and-white.
    • Goofs
      As Alain walks on the streets of Paris, the crew (pushing the dolly) is visible on the shop windows he passes by.
    • Quotes

      Alain Leroy: I'm killing myself because you didn't love me, because I didn't love you. Because our ties were loose, I'm killing myself to tighten them. I leave you with an indelible stain.

    • Connections
      Featured in Arcana, connaissance de la musique: Musique et cinéma: 1 La musique de films (1969)
    • Soundtracks
      Trois Gymnopédies
      Written by Erik Satie

    User reviews46

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    The Terrible Vision
    One extraordinary feature of this film is what I would call a "filter". Right from the start, the viewer knows that Alain is hurriedly (yet half-heartedly) searching for something that would give him the will to live, otherwise he will commit suicide. This extremely simple premise leads to extraordinary effects: the everyday happenings, which would seem neutral or even pleasant in any other circumstance, now fill us with disgust. Through the filter of Alain's eyes, we perceive the everyday reality as hopeless and empty of any worthwhile purpose. The author's message: you should apply that filter to your own life. But who has the guts to do it? I know I don't.
    helpful•43
    8
    • mmaras
    • Dec 17, 1999

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 15, 1963 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • France
    • Language
      • French
    • Also known as
      • The Fire Within
    • Filming locations
      • Café de Flore - 172 boulevard Saint-Germain, Paris 6, Paris, France
    • Production company
      • Nouvelles Éditions de Films (NEF)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 48 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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