Diary of a Chambermaid (1964)

A sophisticated and self-assured woman from Paris joins a middle-class rural estate as a maid and causes quite a stir among the variously uptight, perverse and violent inhabitants.

Director:

Luis Buñuel (as Luis Bunuel)

Writers:

Octave Mirbeau (based on the novel by), Luis Buñuel (adaptation) (as Luis Bunuel)

Stars:

Jeanne Moreau, Georges Géret, Michel Piccoli

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jeanne Moreau	...	Céléstine
Georges Géret	...	Joseph
Daniel Ivernel	...	M Mauger
Françoise Lugagne	...	Mme Monteil
Muni	...	Marianne
Jean Ozenne	...	M Rabour
Michel Piccoli	...	M Monteil
Joëlle Bernard	...	(as Joelle Bernard)
Françoise Bertin
Jean-Claude Carrière	...	Le curé
Aline Bertrand	...	La voyageuse
Pierre Collet	...	Le voyageur
Michel Dacquin	...	(as Michel Dacquid)
Madeleine Damien	...	La cuisinière des Monteil
Marc Eyraud	...	Le secrétaire du commissaire

Storyline

Celestine, the chambermaid, has new job on the country. The Monteils, who she works for are a group of strange people. The wife is frigid, her husband is always hunting (both animals and women) and her father is a shoe-fetishist. Joseph, the farm-labourer is a fascist and sexually attracted to Celestine. Celestine settles herself and talks to the neighbour, an ex-officer, who likes damaging his neighbour's things. After the death of the old man, she quits her job, but because of the rape and murder of a child 'Little Claire' she decides to stay, believing that Joseph is the murderer. To get his confession she sleeps with him and promises to marry him. In spite of her engagement she fakes evidence to implicate him in the murder. He is arrested, but is released because the evidence is inconclusive. She marries the ex-officer and takes on a housewife role similar to that of Madame Monteil.

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Plot Keywords:

murder | rape | pedophilia | frigidity | child rape | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

The protest at the end of the film, is based on a real protest which took place in 1934. The Far-right leagues (Ligues d'extrême droite) were protesting about the removal of Jean Chiappe from his position as Prefect of Police by Édouard Daladier, president of the Conseil (Council), France's governing body.

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Goofs

Celestine tries to read a book that M. Rabour has open on his desk as she serves him coffee. The front shot shows the book close to the tray and his left hand on the book keeping his page open. The next shot, from Celestine's side, shows the book further away from the tray and it is being kept open by a a rubber stamp.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Céléstine: Are you from the priory?
Joseph: Yes.
Céléstine: Is it far?
Joseph: You'll see.

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Connections

Referenced in Call Him Jess (2000)

User Reviews

no concessions

The best thing about Bunuel is his ruthless lucidity, and it's thoroughly on display here. All his films start from the conviction that no one is to be pitied - or even if they are, Bunuel, like life, will not oblige, and neither the audience nor the person concerned should expect it of them. Which is not to say that all abuses are right - the film postulates that between fascist and violent criminal there is little difference, and then, true to lucid form, makes it clear at the end that evil does *not* automatically bring about its own destruction; a fact not to be lamented but fought over. Bunuel said he thought it was his most erotic film. It's not an unreasonable claim. There's not a single sex scene. Go figure.

Details

Country:

France Italy

Language:

French

Release Date:

9 March 1965 (USA)

Also Known As:

Diary of a Chambermaid

Filming Locations:

Mennecy, Essonne, France

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$126

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ciné-Alliance, Filmsonor, Spéva Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1