La Vie de Bohème (1992)

Three struggling artists try to make passable livings in Paris despite knock backs and tragedies.

Director:

Aki Kaurismäki

Writers:

Henri Murger (based on the novel by: "Scènes de la vie de bohème"), Aki Kaurismäki

Stars:

Matti Pellonpää, Evelyne Didi, André Wilms

5 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Matti Pellonpää	...	Rodolfo
Evelyne Didi	...	Mimi
André Wilms	...	Marcel Marx
Kari Väänänen	...	Schaunard
Christine Murillo	...	Musette
Jean-Pierre Léaud	...	Blancheron
Laika	...	Baudelaire
Carlos Salgado	...	Garcon de café
Alexis Nitzer	...	Henri Bernard
Sylvie Van den Elsen	...	Mme. Bernard
Gilles Charmant	...	Groupe rock
Dominique Marcas	...	Brocanteuse
Samuel Fuller	...	Gassot
Jean-Paul Wenzel	...	Francis
Louis Malle	...	Gentleman

Storyline

Three penniless artists become friends in modern-day Paris: Rodolfo, an Albanian painter with no visa, Marcel, a playwright and magazine editor with no publisher, and Schaunard, a post-modernist composer of execrable noise. Rodolfo falls in love with Mimi, a barmaid. The day he asks her to move in with him, he is deported. Six months later, he sneaks back to Paris, and Mimi leaves her new boyfriend to be with him. Conflicts arise, especially around their poverty, and soon Mimi and Rodolfo separate, as do Marcel and his Musette. The three men scrape together a meal to celebrate All Saints' Day, and Mimi arrives, ill. Can her friends bring her back to health? Can love rekindle?

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Plot Keywords:

painting | based on novel | exile | friend | artist | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Finland France Sweden Germany

Language:

French

Release Date:

29 July 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

La Vie de Bohème

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sputnik, Pyramide Productions, Films A2

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Aki Kaurismäki spend years trying to write an adaptation of Henri Murgen's novel with Helsinki in mind as a shooting-location. But finally he came to a conclusion that Paris is the only place where the film could be made.

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Connections

Version of 'La bohème' im Hochhaus (2009)

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Soundtracks

De velours et de soie
Written by Jimmy Walter and Boris Vian
Performed by Serge Reggiani

User Reviews

excellent movie about starving artists

the movie is about three scoundrelly, starving, yet genuine artists. i loved the acting, rudolfo in particular is perfect to the T, and story of the 3 artists, since i felt i could identify with them, being a poor, un-understood writer/artist myself (yeah i know one among many thousands, but that does not detract). the movie is not too ham handed about this aspect and keeps the first part of the film very lively, with loves and adventures galore. the second part is slightly more serious what with an unexpected ending. the movie did not have the tight ending and core cohesiveness that is required of masterpieces. part of it may be that it is adapted from a book written in 1888, henri munger's - Scenes de la Boheme. by the way the director is flemish!!! highly amusing, the men seem hip to the scene and even when forlorn are in a trendy down-trodden people's bar (without the street thugs/drunks), cigarette's dangling perpetually from their mouths. the black and white cinematography and overall style of visual composition is spot on. the scene where the musician plays his "original" composition is a hoot. i HIGHLY recommend it.