May Fools (1990)

Like Vanya, in Malle's last film, Milou never left the family estate. His mother dies during the May 1968 student uprising in Paris. The brother who is the London correspondent for Le Monde... See full summary »

Director:

Louis Malle

Writers:

Louis Malle (scenario), Jean-Claude Carrière (scenario)

Stars:

Miou-Miou, Michel Piccoli, Michel Duchaussoy

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 2 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Miou-Miou	...	Camille
Michel Piccoli	...	Milou
Michel Duchaussoy	...	Georges
Bruno Carette	...	Grimaldi
Paulette Dubost	...	Mrs. Vieuzac
Harriet Walter	...	Lily
Martine Gautier	...	Adele
Rozenne Le Tallec	...	Marie-Laure
Jeanne Herry	...	Françoise (as Jeanne Herry-Leclerc)
Renaud Danner	...	Pierre-Alain
François Berléand	...	Daniel
Dominique Blanc	...	Claire
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Serge Angeloff	...	Adele's fiancé
Anne-Marie Bonange	...	Neighbor
Marcel Bories	...	Leonce

Storyline

Like Vanya, in Malle's last film, Milou never left the family estate. His mother dies during the May 1968 student uprising in Paris. The brother who is the London correspondent for Le Monde keeps turning up the volume of the radio for the latest news. A deceased sister's interest in the estate is represented by a niece who is an antique dealer, who is most interested in grandmother's emerald ring that Milou's daughter Camille has already slipped on her finger. A non-relative, a truck driver who can't deliver his load of tomatoes in Paris, brings a nephew who was part of the uprising. Everyone is on strike and the matriarch can't be buried.

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Plot Keywords:

dancing around corpse | year 1968 | comedy of manners | sophisticated comedy | political satire | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

France Italy

Language:

French English

Release Date:

July 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

May Fools

Filming Locations:

Château du Calaoue, Gers, France

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$20,078, 24 June 1990

Gross USA:

$1,576,702

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,576,702

Company Credits

Production Co:

Nouvelles Éditions de Films (NEF), TF1 Films Production, Ellepi Films

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jeanne Herry, who plays Françoise (the little girl) is the real-life daughter of Miou-Miou. In 2014 she directed her first feature film, 'Elle l'adore', starring Sandrine Kiberlain and Laurent Lafitte.

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Connections

Featured in Zomergasten: Episode #5.2 (1992)

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Soundtracks

La Fille du Bedouin
Ed. Salabert
Written by Georges Milton (uncredited)

User Reviews

A feast of emotions ...

Milou en Mai finds the aging Louis Malle at his most wickedly wistful, directing mischievous set pieces and ultimately expressing nervous laughter at his own mortality. Made more in the traditions of British farce than the traditional French 'sophistication', in being set to the background of the 60's union unrest and student riots, the film keeps a subtle check on the ridiculous. Examining death, family relationships, marital relationships, extra-marital relationships and the different ways people perceive their lot in life, Milou en Mai has something for everyone: farcical comedy, beautiful cinematography, perceptive commentary, delightful anecdotes (I'm thinking of the opening bee-keeper scene and crab-catching in the river) and fantastic 'Hot Club de France' bowing and strumming. This film is one of my all time favourites - gentle, intelligent, sensitive fun - highly recommended.