The Apartment (1996)

A recently engaged man sees a former lover and becomes obsessed with meeting her again.

Director:

Gilles Mimouni

Writer:

Gilles Mimouni

Stars:

Romane Bohringer, Vincent Cassel, Jean-Philippe Écoffey

Won 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Romane Bohringer	...	Alice
Vincent Cassel	...	Max Mayer
Jean-Philippe Écoffey	...	Lucien
Monica Bellucci	...	Lisa
Sandrine Kiberlain	...	Muriel
Olivier Granier	...	Daniel
Paul Pavel	...	Jeweller
Nelly Alard	...	Madeleine
Bruno Leonelli	...	Alain Beccaria
Tateo Isaizaki	...	Japanese Businessman
Tsuyu Shimizu	...	Japanese Interpreter
Ricardo Mateo	...	Cafe Waiter
Vincent Nemeth	...	Barman
Bruno Fernández Vella	...	Video Technician
Juan Carlos Martín Alonso	...	Video Technician

Storyline

Max is on his way to Tokyo. He lives in Paris and likes to flirt but has decided to get married. By chance, he seems to have seen Lisa, his greatest love, in a cafe. Max forgets everything, his trip to Tokyo and his fiance. Obsessed with meeting Lisa he finds out where she lives and hides in the apartment. However, a different girl, called Alice, finds Max in the flat. Alice looks quite similar to Lisa, and they have sex. To complicate matters further, Alice is also the girlfriend of Max's buddy Lucien and Lisa is followed by an older man.

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Plot Keywords:

apartment | voyeur | infidelity | female nudity | female frontal nudity | 

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Taglines:

A place where passion and destiny meet.

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some sexuality/nudity

Did You Know?

Trivia

The play that features Lisa and Alice is 'A Midsummer's Night Dream' by William Shakespeare.

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Quotes

Lisa: Do you often stalk people?

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Connections

Remade as Wicker Park (2004)

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Soundtracks

Le temps
Music by Jeff Davis
Lyrics by Charles Aznavour
Performed by Charles Aznavour
Courtesy of EMI Music France

User Reviews

Get set for the emotional rollercoaster

This is a fabulous film.

The plot is a good yarn, and is imaginatively told in a series of flashbacks and alternative points of view. What was deliberate, and what was coincidence? Who is in love with who?

You get the chance to put yourselves in the shoes of each of the characters in turn (sometimes literally), and this helps define each character to a satisfying depth.

With a bit of effort following the twists and turns, you can understand each of the characters; and key events in the film are reshot from the point of view of different people.

Take the opportunity if it comes again to your arthouse cinema; it looks good on the big screen.

More than keeping you guessing, the plot twists to such an extent that you just sit and watch what unfolds - I defy anyone to predict!

But more likely you will need more than one viewing - I saw this at the pictures on its original release three times, and it got better each time.

The acting was very good, with a standout performance by Romane Bohringer as Alice torn in three directions by the three other characters in the ensemble.

A classic. The second-best film of the 1990s.

Details

Country:

France Spain Italy

Language:

French English Japanese

Release Date:

2 October 1996 (France)

Also Known As:

The Apartment

Filming Locations:

Place Vendôme, Paris 1, Paris, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cecchi Gori Group Tiger Cinematografica, IMA Productions, La Sept Cinéma

Technical Specs

Runtime:

116 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1