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IMDbPro

L'enfant secret

  • 19791979
  • 1h 32m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
652
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
79,656
23,422
L'enfant secret (1979)
Drama
Four chapters based on the birth of a 'secret child', or a film, with chapter titles: "La séction Césarienne" (Caesarian section: a descriptive detail introducing the mother); "Le dernier gu... Read allFour chapters based on the birth of a 'secret child', or a film, with chapter titles: "La séction Césarienne" (Caesarian section: a descriptive detail introducing the mother); "Le dernier guerrier" (the last warrior: how the father sees himself); "Le cercle ophydique" (the serpen... Read allFour chapters based on the birth of a 'secret child', or a film, with chapter titles: "La séction Césarienne" (Caesarian section: a descriptive detail introducing the mother); "Le dernier guerrier" (the last warrior: how the father sees himself); "Le cercle ophydique" (the serpent's closed circle: the couple reunites at the psychiatric ward); "Les forêts désenchantées... Read all
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
652
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
79,656
23,422
  • Director
    • Philippe Garrel
  • Writer
    • Philippe Garrel
  • Stars
    • Anne Wiazemsky
    • Henri de Maublanc
    • Xuan Lindenmeyer
Top credits
  • Director
    • Philippe Garrel
  • Writer
    • Philippe Garrel
  • Stars
    • Anne Wiazemsky
    • Henri de Maublanc
    • Xuan Lindenmeyer
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 3User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 1 nomination

    Photos36

    L'enfant secret (1979)
    L'enfant secret (1979)
    L'enfant secret (1979)
    L'enfant secret (1979)
    L'enfant secret (1979)
    L'enfant secret (1979)
    L'enfant secret (1979)
    L'enfant secret (1979)
    L'enfant secret (1979)
    L'enfant secret (1979)
    L'enfant secret (1979)
    L'enfant secret (1979)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Anne Wiazemsky
    Anne Wiazemsky
    • Elie
    Henri de Maublanc
    • Jean-Baptiste
    Xuan Lindenmeyer
    • Swann, Elie's child
    Cécile Le Bailly
    • Chloé
    Elli Medeiros
    Elli Medeiros
    • The whore
    Philippe Garrel
    Philippe Garrel
    • Psychiatric patient
    Christian Päffgen
    • Boy
    • (as Ari Päffgen)
    Benoît Ferreux
    Benoît Ferreux
    Eliane Roy
    • Jean-Baptiste's mother
    Bambou
    Edwige
    • La prostituée
    • (as Edwige Gruss)
    • Director
      • Philippe Garrel
    • Writer
      • Philippe Garrel
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The book that is read at the beginning of the movie is Goethe's Faustus.
    • Quotes

      Élie: His father is an actor. I went to see him on the set of a film shortly after giving birth, and he said he would recognize the child, but he never did, and I never saw him again.

    • Crazy credits
      There are no credits other than a title card (which appears twice) and section titles. All cast and crew are uncredited.
    • Connections
      Featured in Cinéma, de notre temps: Philippe Garrel, artiste (1998)

    User reviews3

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    Garrel examines the slow decomposition of a self-destructive couple in Paris.
    This is one of the most singular, beautiful and harrowing films I have seen in my life. The impression it makes on the viewer is intensified by the fact that the film practically doesn't exist. It was released for a short time on DVD in Japan, but besides that it hasn't been on the market anywhere. The only print in the world belongs to the director, and he only lends it out to select museums and theatres. He was kind enough to let the MoMA screen it as a part of their series honoring films that have won the Prix Jean VIgo in the past. The two principle actors are both beautiful and disquieting. They become pictures for Garrel to arrange in his aesthetically perfect frames. The film explores the infection involved in love. The relationship dies because it is claustrophobic, but its claustrophobic only because of its intensity. The psychology of the film is fraught with the influence of drugs, forcing the characters to ask themselves how much they're willing to pay in order to have some beauty in their lives. Watching the movie was a similar experience for me. It's a somewhat unhealthy story, and I knew that the more I enjoyed the film, the more bitterly I would regret never being able to see it again. If it is somehow within your means, do anything you can in order to see this film. And then suck it up and try to remember it the best you can.
    helpful•11
    5
    • GraveCharmer
    • Mar 19, 2006

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 2, 1982 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • France
    • Official sites
      • Official DVD
      • Official site
    • Language
      • French
    • Also known as
      • The Secret Son
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 32 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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