Le Grand Amour (1969)

After fifteen years of average married life and stifling in-laws, a businessman undergoes a midlife crisis and pursues his attractive young secretary.

Director:

Pierre Étaix

Writers:

Pierre Étaix, Jean-Claude Carrière

Stars:

Pierre Étaix, Annie Fratellini, Nicole Calfan

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Pierre Étaix	...	Pierre
Annie Fratellini	...	Florence Girard
Nicole Calfan	...	Agnès
Alain Janey	...	Jacques
Ketty France	...	Madame Girard
Louis Maïss	...	Monsieur Girard (as Louis Maiss)
Jacqueline Rouillard	...	Madame Louise
Renée Gardès	...	Une commère
Billy Bourbon	...	Le poivrot
Claude Massot	...	Le garçon de café
Micha Bayard	...	La secrétaire de Bourget
Jane Beretta	...	Une commère
Magali Clément	...	Irène
Emile Coryn	...	(as Emilius Coryn)
Sylvie Delalande

Storyline

Pierre married Florence, the only daughter of a small industrialist. 15 years later, he is the boss, but his middle-class life worries him a lot. When a new young and lovely secretary comes, he starts dreaming.

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Plot Keywords:

goodbye | marital crisis | car | rumormonger | rumor | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Finnish censorship visa # 77537 delivered on 23-4-1969.

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Quotes

Florence: How's the new secretary?
Pierre: Very good.

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Connections

Referenced in The Chambermaid Lynn (2014)

User Reviews

A Classical French Comedy

Following in the tradition of "Monsieur Hulot's Holiday", "Le Grand Amour" uses as little dialogue as possible. However, there is more dialogue in "Le Grand Amour" and the viewer feels more involved, whereas in "Monsieur Hulot's Holiday", the viewer feels more like a voyeur, just watching the happenings that occur around him.

"Le Grand Amour" also has a theme; it is not just a slice of life. The protagonist, Pierre (Pierre Etaix, who also wrote and directed the film), lives his life rather passively. He is affected and influenced by the opinions of others, by gossip, and by the institutions and social forms that exist. Even when he seeks to assert himself, it still feels like he is just shrugging off one convention for another.

The style of the film is much like the silent film comedies of earlier years. But it seamlessly strays into flights of fancy, like the scenes where he fantasizes about his secretary and those involving dreams (a la Woody Allen).

The film is very creative in its use of sound effects. Notice, for example, the background sounds when certain characters are on screen.

The film is also filled with vignettes and ancillary comic touches that add to its charm, like the waiter whose curiosity about the restaurant patrons affects his performance and who, at one point, actually interacts with a memory recounted by Pierre in voice over.

The film has a charming, light-hearted view of life and marriage, with a self-deprecating sense of humor.

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

21 March 1969 (France)

Also Known As:

Le Grand Amour

Filming Locations:

Sur les rives du Cher, Tours, Indre-et-Loire, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

C.A.P.A.C., Les Productions de la Guéville, Madeleine Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1