Post-apocalyptic surrealist black comedy about the landlord of an apartment building who occasionally prepares a delicacy for his odd tenants.
Directors:
Writers:
Awards:
- Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 15 wins & 15 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
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Pascal Benezech | ... |
Tried to Escape
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| Dominique Pinon | ... |
Louison
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| Marie-Laure Dougnac | ... |
Julie Clapet
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| Jean-Claude Dreyfus | ... |
Clapet
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| Karin Viard | ... |
Mademoiselle Plusse
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| Ticky Holgado | ... |
Marcel Tapioca
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| Anne-Marie Pisani | ... |
Madame Tapioca
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Boban Janevski | ... |
Young Rascal
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Mikael Todde | ... |
Young Rascal
(as Mikaël Todde)
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Edith Ker | ... |
Grandmother
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| Rufus | ... |
Robert Kube
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| Jacques Mathou | ... |
Roger
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| Howard Vernon | ... |
Frog Man
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Chick Ortega | ... |
Postman
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Silvie Laguna | ... |
Aurore Interligator
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| Jean-François Perrier | ... |
Georges Interligator
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| Dominique Zardi | ... |
Taxi Driver
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| Patrick Paroux | ... |
Puk
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| Maurice Lamy | ... |
Pank
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Marc Caro | ... |
Fox
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Eric Averlant | ... |
Tourneur
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| Dominique Bettenfeld | ... |
Les Troglodistes
(as Dominique)
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Jean-Luc Caron | ... |
Les Troglodistes
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Bernard Flavien | ... |
Les Troglodistes
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David Defever | ... |
Les Troglodistes
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Raymond Forestier | ... |
Les Troglodistes
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Robert Baud | ... |
Les Troglodistes
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Clara | ... |
Mr. Livingstone the Chimp
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Anthony Backman | ... |
Buano (uncredited)
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| Nikky Smedley | ... |
Teri - Buano's Wife (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Marc Caro | ||
| Jean-Pierre Jeunet | ||
Written by
| Jean-Pierre Jeunet | ... | (screenplay) & |
| Marc Caro | ... | (screenplay) & |
| Gilles Adrien | ... | (screenplay) |
| Gilles Adrien | ... | (dialogue) |
| Jean-Pierre Jeunet | ... | (shooting script) |
Produced by
| René Cleitman | ... | producer |
| Costa-Gavras | ... | producer |
| Antoine Grujard | ... | post producer |
| François Heilbronner | ... | producer |
| Claudie Ossard | ... | producer |
| Georges Prost | ... | producer |
| Guy Verrecchia | ... | producer |
Music by
| Carlos D'Alessio | ||
Cinematography by
| Darius Khondji | ||
Editing by
| Hervé Schneid | ||
Editorial Department
| Céline De Seyne | ... | post-production assistant (as Céline De Seynes) |
| Yvan Lucas | ... | color timer |
Casting By
| Pierre-Jacques Bénichou | ... | (as Pierre-Jacques Benichou) |
Production Design by
| Marc Caro | ||
Art Direction by
| Miljen Kreka Kljakovic | ... | chief art director |
Set Decoration by
| Aline Bonetto | ||
Costume Design by
| Valérie Pozzo di Borgo | ||
Makeup Department
| Nathalie Champigny | ... | key hair stylist |
| Myriam Coulet | ... | assistant makeup artist |
| Hugo Quiroga | ... | key makeup artist |
Production Management
| Michèle Arnould | ... | production manager |
| Grégoire Barachin | ... | assistant unit manager |
| Nadine Chaussonnière | ... | apprentice unit manager (as Nadine Chaussonniere) |
| Patrice Poupard | ... | assistant unit manager |
| Jacques Scarrone | ... | unit production manager |
| Jérôme Tokarz | ... | apprentice unit manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Jean-Christophe Spadaccini | ... | second assistant director |
| Jean-Marc Tostivint | ... | first assistant director |
Art Department
| Gilles Baillot | ... | constructor |
| Valérie Berthoux | ... | model maker |
| Bernard Boivin | ... | chief constructor |
| Jean-Michel Boivin | ... | constructor |
| Aline Bonetto | ... | set designer |
| Marc Caro | ... | storyboard artist |
| Jean-Philippe Carp | ... | set designer / set dresser |
| Simon Carp | ... | second assistant art director |
| Marie Desforge | ... | model maker (as Marie Desforges) |
| Yves Domenjoud | ... | props |
| Nicolás Díaz | ... | sculptor (as Nicolas Diaz) |
| Gilles Faraldo | ... | constructor |
| Eric Frion | ... | constructor |
| Richard Gerardin | ... | constructor |
| Noël Guillot | ... | painter decorator |
| Jean-François Juvanon | ... | constructor |
| Miljen Kreka Kljakovic | ... | set designer (as Kreka) / set dresser (as Miljen Kljakovic) |
| Vincent Lebrinon | ... | constructor |
| Loïc Lemoigne | ... | second assistant art director |
| Andréa Llinaeres | ... | model maker |
| Fabrice Maux | ... | constructor |
| Jacques Mery | ... | constructor |
| Igor Mollet | ... | constructor |
| Jean Rabasse | ... | concept: roof / model conceptionist / set designer |
| Claude Sanzey | ... | constructor |
| Valérie Sebast | ... | model maker |
| Silvia Sella | ... | constructor |
| Yann Sibiril | ... | constructor |
| Jérôme Signori | ... | model maker |
| Bertrand Terreyre | ... | constructor |
| Denis Vassal | ... | constructor |
| Serge Vassal | ... | constructor |
| Tom Wiggins | ... | constructor |
Sound Department
| Vincent Arnardi | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Marc Caro | ... | sound effects |
| Laurent Dreyer | ... | assistant sound mixer |
| Gérard Hardy | ... | sound editor |
| Larry Hopkins | ... | sound mixer |
| Didier Jouyaux | ... | assistant sound editor |
| Jean-Pierre Lelong | ... | foley artist |
| Anne-Marie Lhote | ... | sound editor (as Anne-Marie L'Hote) |
| Mario Melchiorri | ... | assistant foley artist |
| Muriel Moreau | ... | dialogue editor |
| Daniel Orsini | ... | assistant dialogue editor |
| Julie Pribula | ... | trainee dialogue editor |
| Jérôme Thiault | ... | sound effects / sound engineer / sound |
| Jacques Thomas-Gérard | ... | adr mixer |
| Laurent Zeilig | ... | assistant sound engineer / boom operator |
Special Effects by
| Jean-Baptiste Bonetto | ... | special effects |
| Yves Domenjoud | ... | special effects |
| Olivier Gleyze | ... | special effects |
| Lionel Mathis | ... | special effects |
Visual Effects by
| Baptiste Magnien | ... | optical effects: Acme |
| Pitof | ... | digital visual effects: Duran |
| Antoine Simkine | ... | digital visual effects: Duran |
| Vincent Tully | ... | motion control: Acme |
| Yves Tully | ... | motion control: Acme |
| Jean-Marie Vives | ... | digital matte painter |
| Rip Hampton O'Neil | ... | director of reseach and development (uncredited) |
Stunts
| William Cagnard | ... | stunts (as Williams Cagnard) |
| Rémi Canaple | ... | stunts |
| Patrick Cauderlier | ... | stunt coordinator |
| Didier Moirot | ... | stunts |
| Arlette Spetebroot | ... | stunts |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Franck Barreau | ... | electrician (as Franck Barreau) / electrician |
| Eric Caro | ... | set photographer |
| Rémy Chevrin | ... | first assistant camera |
| Philippe Derobert | ... | generator operator (as Philippe Mazure de Robert) |
| Bruno Dubet | ... | key grip |
| Bernard Gemahling | ... | chief electrician |
| Nicolas Juge | ... | additional electrician |
| Olivier Lancelle | ... | additional electrician |
| Philippe Le Sourd | ... | second assistant camera (as Philippe Lesourd) |
| Philippe Lesard | ... | second assistant camera |
| Lionel Perrin | ... | additional electrician |
| Ferencz Radnai | ... | additional electrician |
| Michel Sabourdy | ... | electrician |
| Gérard Sionneau | ... | generator operator |
| Stéphane Vidal | ... | additional grip |
| Yorgo Voyadzis | ... | key grip (as Yorgo Voyatzis) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Véronique Degy | ... | assistant costumer |
| Valérie Pozzo di Borgo | ... | chief costumer |
| Marianne Vally | ... | assistant costumer |
Location Management
| Pierre Dufour | ... | location scout |
Music Department
| Jean-Michel Bergounioux | ... | music arranger |
| Larry Hopkins | ... | music editor / music |
| Isabele Pinadel | ... | musician: cello (as Isabelle Pinardel) |
| Hervé Schneid | ... | music editor |
| Les Sipolos | ... | musical saw (as Lev Sipolos) |
| René Taquet | ... | musical consultant |
| Hubert Varron | ... | musician: cello |
| Michel Wanker | ... | music mixer |
Script and Continuity Department
| Aruna Villiers | ... | script supervisor |
Additional Crew
| Fethi Abida | ... | caterer |
| Denyse Aureche | ... | accountant |
| Marc Bruckert | ... | titles: Le Village |
| Emmanuel Jaffre | ... | caterer |
| François Jeanson | ... | playing vehicles |
| Isabelle Lesenechal | ... | production secretary |
| Christophe Mache | ... | caterer |
| Marie-Christine Malbert | ... | press officer |
| Arlette Mas | ... | production administrator |
| Michael Mendelsohn | ... | banker/production financier |
| Caroline Selle | ... | production assistant |
Thanks
| Jean-Charles Bachelier | ... | thanks |
| Anne Bezançon | ... | thanks |
| Isabelle Boisbouvier | ... | thanks |
| Mme. Celerier | ... | thanks: Faculté de Jussieu |
| Thérèse Chevalier | ... | thanks |
| Olivier Chiavassa | ... | thanks |
| Henryk Chroscicki | ... | thanks |
| Roger Cornu | ... | thanks |
| Olivier de Mones | ... | thanks |
| Monsieur Delmas | ... | thanks |
| Françoise Elephantis | ... | thanks |
| Sylvain Frydman | ... | thanks |
| Françoise Geoffroy St Hilaire | ... | thanks |
| Monsieur Guirou | ... | thanks |
| Monsieur Josnin | ... | thanks |
| Alain Laury | ... | thanks |
| Gustave Parking | ... | thanks |
| Patrick | ... | thanks |
| Le Clown Pitou | ... | thanks |
| Edith Pommerol | ... | thanks |
| Monsieur Rabillon | ... | thanks |
| Monsieur Rouanet | ... | thanks |
| Les Sipolos | ... | thanks |
| Monsieur Tellier | ... | thanks |
| Mme. Toti | ... | thanks: Faculté de Jussieu |
| Jean Villiers | ... | thanks |
Production Companies
- Constellation
- Union Générale Cinématographique (UGC)
- Hachette Première
- Sofinergie Films (with the collaboration of)
- Sofinergie 2 (with the collaboration of)
- Investimage 2 (with the collaboration of)
- Investimage 3 (with the collaboration of)
- Fondation GAN pour le Cinéma (financial support)
- Victoires Productions
Distributors
- Sonet Film (1991) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Miramax (1992) (United States) (subtitled)
- Universal Music Group (DVD)
- Concorde Filmverleih (1992) (Germany) (theatrical)
- Contemporary Films (1992) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Cor Koppies Filmverhuur (I) (1991) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Electric Pictures Ltd. (1992) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Herald Ace (1991) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Penta Distribuzione (1992) (Italy) (theatrical)
- Penta Distribuzione (Italy) (theatrical)
- Sadfi Films (Switzerland) (theatrical)
- Splendor Films (2024) (France) (theatrical) (re-release) (4K restoration)
- Union Générale Cinématographique (UGC) (1991) (France) (theatrical)
- Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (video)
- Arthaus (2014) (Germany) (DVD)
- Arthaus (2014) (Germany) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- Canal+ (1992) (France) (tv)
- Concorde Video (Germany) (VHS)
- Front Row Filmed Entertainment (2008) (United Arab Emirates) (DVD) (Middle East)
- Globo Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
- Lions Gate Films Home Entertainment (2008) (United States) (DVD)
- Lionsgate Home Entertainment (2010) (United States) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- Malofilm Home Video (1992) (Canada) (video)
- Miramax (video)
- Panorama Distributions (2010) (Hong Kong) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (laserdisc)
- RCV Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
- Severin Films (2025) (United States) (Ultra HD Blu-ray)
- StudioCanal (2023) (France) (Ultra HD Blu-ray)
- The Criterion Channel (2020) (United States) (tv) (digital)
- Universal Home Video (2005) (Brazil) (DVD)
- Universal Pictures (2004) (Sweden) (DVD)
- Universal Pictures (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
- Universal Pictures (2007) (Sweden) (DVD)
- Universal Pictures (2010) (Sweden) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Actions Movies (stunt equipment)
- Agfa Gevaert (sound stock)
- Alphabet (detection)
- Annayake (makeup products)
- Atelier Lefloch (sets)
- Atelier Tard Le Soir (models)
- Audio 24/25 (sound library)
- BASF (sound stock)
- Canal+ (thanks)
- Ciné Lumières de Paris (electric equipment)
- Cinégrip (grip equipment)
- Cinégrip (vehicles)
- Daniel Nyiri & Associates (press and publicity, usa) (international support)
- Dolby Stereo (in selected theatres)
- Elison (sound transfer)
- Essilor (thanks)
- Jet Impressions (thanks)
- Kodak (negative film)
- L'Atelier (sound recording)
- Le Chartier Malatier (broker)
- Le Gan (insurances)
- Les Égoutiers de Paris (thanks)
- Lissac (thanks)
- London Records (soundtrack)
- Municipalité d'Ivry (thanks)
- Restomobile (catering)
- Show Rech Family (animal trainer)
- Sped (construction)
- Studios Merjithur (music mixing)
- Studios de Billancourt (editing)
- Studios de Billancourt (sound system)
- Technovision France (camera equipment)
- Zig et Puce (thanks)
- Éclair (special color processing)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Centered on a post-apocalyptic society where food is scarce and used as currency. In an apartment building with a delicatessen on the ground floor. The owner of the eatery also owns the apartment building and is in need of a new maintenance man since the prior one "mysteriously" disappeared. A former clown applies for the job and the butcher's intent is to have him work for as little as possible. The clown and butcher's daughter fall in love and she tries to foil her father's plans by contacting the "troglodytes", a grain eating sub-group of society who live entirely underground. Written by anonymous |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | A futuristic comic feast See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | FRF24,000,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Jean-Pierre Jeunet got the idea for a cannibal butcher when living in an apartment above a butcher's shop. Each morning at 7am he would hear the metallic clash of knives and a voice shout, "Chop chop!" His girlfriend said he was carving up the neighbors, and it would be their turn next week. See more » |
| Goofs | Every time Julie plays the cello, the audio is behind what she plays. This is most visible in the first playing session when she is practising by playing C major up and down; the lag is several notes. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in White Sands/A Midnight Clear/Passed Away/The Playboys/Delicatessen (1992). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Entry of the Gladiators See more » |
| Crazy Credits | In the opening credits, crew members' names appear on objects that the camera tracks across: the director of photography's name appears on a camera, the composer's name on a broken 12" record, etc. See more » |
| Quotes |
Louison:
This is a job for the Australian! See more » |