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IMDbPro

The Salamander

Original title: La salamandre
  • 19711971
  • 2h 5m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
743
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
35,071
6,100
Bulle Ogier in The Salamander (1971)
Watch Bande-annonce [OV]
Play trailer1:28
1 Video
7 Photos
ComedyDrama
Two men, arty though somewhat staid, are drawn to the spirited and quixotic Rosemonde, a young working-class woman whom they meet because they're writing a teleplay about a minor but curious... Read allTwo men, arty though somewhat staid, are drawn to the spirited and quixotic Rosemonde, a young working-class woman whom they meet because they're writing a teleplay about a minor but curious event in which either her uncle was wounded while cleaning his rifle or she shot him. Pie... Read allTwo men, arty though somewhat staid, are drawn to the spirited and quixotic Rosemonde, a young working-class woman whom they meet because they're writing a teleplay about a minor but curious event in which either her uncle was wounded while cleaning his rifle or she shot him. Pierre is a free-lance journalist hired to write the script; he's short of time so he asks a ... Read all
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
743
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
35,071
6,100
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Alain Tanner
    • Writers
      • John Berger
      • Alain Tanner
    • Stars
      • Bulle Ogier
      • Jean-Luc Bideau
      • Jacques Denis
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Alain Tanner
    • Writers
      • John Berger
      • Alain Tanner
    • Stars
      • Bulle Ogier
      • Jean-Luc Bideau
      • Jacques Denis
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 4User reviews
    • 14Critic reviews
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations

    Videos1

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

    Photos7

    The Salamander (1971)
    Jean-Luc Bideau and Bulle Ogier in The Salamander (1971)
    Jean-Luc Bideau and Bulle Ogier in The Salamander (1971)
    Bulle Ogier in The Salamander (1971)
    The Salamander (1971)
    The Salamander (1971)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Bulle Ogier
    Bulle Ogier
    • Rosemonde
    Jean-Luc Bideau
    Jean-Luc Bideau
    • Pierre
    Jacques Denis
    • Paul
    Véronique Alain
    • Suzanne
    Daniel Stuffel
    • Le patron du magasin de chaussures
    Marblum Jequier
    • Lydie - la femme de Paul
    • (as Marblum Jéquier)
    Marcel Vidal
    • L'oncle de Rosemonde
    Dominique Catton
    • Roger
    Violette Fleury
    • La mère du patron du magasin de chaussures
    Mista Préchac
    • La mère de Rosemonde
    Pierre Walker
    • L'inspecteur de la Régie
    Janine Christoffe
    • Catherine - une amie de Pierre
    Guillaume Chenevière
    • L'inspecteur de police
    Claudine Berthet
    • Zoé - la dactylo
    Michel Viala
    • Le patron peintre en bâtiment
    Jean-Christophe Malan
    • Le contremaître de l'usine
    Claudiane Lanz
    Adrien Nicati
    • Director
      • Alain Tanner
    • Writers
      • John Berger
      • Alain Tanner
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Alain Tanner names Paul almost all of his male heroes. They are the director's alter ego.
    • Quotes

      Pierre: Children! Why have them at all?

      Paul: It's the first law of nature. So that we feel the burden of existence. It's to clip our wings.

    • Connections
      Featured in Garçon stupide (2004)

    User reviews4

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    As fresh as today...
    Renting a foreign film, at random, especially one you've never heard of, and directed by someone you're unfamiliar with, can be a wonderful experience if you're lucky enough to wind up with "La Salamandre."

    This 1971 Swiss/French production, shot in glorious black and white, is an off-beat satire which mocks bourgeois conformity and culture in oh-so-straight laced Switzerland. Like shooting fish in a barrel? Director Alain Tanner is far too inspired a talent to settle for the obvious.

    He takes an absurdest plot -- played terribly straight -- about a couple of down-on-their luck, hapless, hack writers, trying to put together a TV script about a sexy, free-spirited young woman who, "in real life," shot and wounded her uncle for several good reasons, mainly, I suspect, for being boring (a motive I find endearing).

    Tanner, best known for "Jonah Who Will Be 25 in the Year 2000," takes his sweet time setting up his eccentric characters and their numskull project, but once in place a lot of genuine laughter arises from the work of his gifted cast, led by the irrepressible Bulle Ogier (the compassionate dominatrix in "Maitress") in their delirious situation. Many great bits, all played straight, are offered, including a government inspector of "civil decency" popping up for an investigation. Much of this inspired stuff seems like it could have been written today and definitely not about the Swiss.
    helpful•18
    0
    • gilgeoIII
    • Nov 17, 2004

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 27, 1971 (France)
    • Countries of origin
      • Switzerland
      • France
    • Official sites
      • Cinémathèque Suisse
      • Director's official site
    • Language
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Der Salamander
    • Filming locations
      • Geneva, Canton de Genève, Switzerland
    • Production companies
      • Filmograph S.A.
      • Forum Films
      • Group 5
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 5 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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