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The Things of Life (1970)

Les choses de la vie (original title)
GP | | Drama , Romance | 13 March 1970 (France)
The Things of Life Poster
A highway engineer is involved in a car crash, after which, near death, he remembers his life leading up to the accident.

Director:

Claude Sautet

Writers:

Sandro Continenza (dialogue: Italian version), Jean-Loup Dabadie (adaptation) | 3 more credits »

Stars:

Michel Piccoli, Romy Schneider, Gérard Lartigau | See full cast & crew »
Reviews
1 win & 1 nomination. See more awards »

Photos

See all 15 photos »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michel Piccoli ... Pierre Bérard
Romy Schneider ... Hélène
Gérard Lartigau Gérard Lartigau ... Bertrand Bérard
Jean Bouise ... François
Boby Lapointe Boby Lapointe ... Le bétailleur
Hervé Sand Hervé Sand ... Le camionneur
Jacques Richard Jacques Richard ... L'infirmier
Betty Beckers Betty Beckers ... L'autostoppeuse
Dominique Zardi Dominique Zardi ... L'autostoppeur
Gabrielle Doulcet Gabrielle Doulcet ... Guitte
Roger Crouzet Roger Crouzet ... Le promoteur
Henri Nassiet Henri Nassiet ... M. Bérard, le père de Pierre
Claude Confortès Claude Confortès ... Le docteur
Jerry Brouer Jerry Brouer ... Le prétendant
Jean Gras Jean Gras ... Georges, le chef de chantier
See full cast »
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Storyline

Pierre, a successful engineer in building highways has a traffic accident. Being seriously wounded, he is lying waiting for death and remembering his past in flashbacks. Written by Mattias Thuresson

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

waiting | flashback | end of love | death of loved one | car truck crash | See All (48) »

Taglines:

Official French Entry, Cannes Film Festival

Genres:

Drama | Romance

Certificate:

GP | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

Add content advisory for parents »
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Details

Country:

France | Italy | Switzerland

Language:

French

Release Date:

13 March 1970 (France) See more »

Also Known As:

The Things of Life See more »

Filming Locations:

Rue de Sèvres, Paris 7, Paris, France See more »
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Box Office

Gross USA:

$25,314, 31 December 2015

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,367,359
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fida Cinematografica,Lira Films,Sonocam See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Six months'preparation. The sequence of the accident took ten days to film. The film inspired a song performed by Frida Boccara (theme by Telemann): "L'année où Piccoli jouait les Choses de la Vie" See more »

Goofs

In the car crash scene, the stunt double for Michel Piccoli is seen wearing brown gloves in close-ups. However Piccoli is bare-handed while driving. See more »

Quotes

Hélène: Tu m'aimes parce que je suis là. Mais s'il faut traverser la rue pour me rejoindre tu es perdu.
See more »

Connections

Featured in Claude Sautet ou La magie invisible (2003) See more »

Soundtracks

Pierre Et Hélène
Written by Philippe Sarde
Performed by Jean-Michel Defaye Et Son Orchestre
See more »

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User Reviews

about life
17 April 2017 | by Kirpianuscus – See all my reviews

in its small aspects. as the traits of an accident. as choices and happy days and love and expectations and miracles and secrets and summer days and bicycle ways and smiles and words and choices. a film like others by Claude Sautet. a film like many others from French cinema. the difference - the special chemistry between Romy Schneider and Michel Piccoli. this is the detail who does difference. and impose a special flavor to a simple and ordinary story.
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