Romance (1999)

Frustrated by the lack of intimacy in her relationship, a young schoolteacher goes through a series of intimidating and often violent sexual partners.

Director:

Catherine Breillat

Writer:

Catherine Breillat (scenario and dialogue)

Stars:

Caroline Ducey, Sagamore Stévenin, François Berléand

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Caroline Ducey	...	Marie
Sagamore Stévenin	...	Paul
François Berléand	...	Robert
Rocco Siffredi	...	Paolo
Reza Habouhossein	...	Man on stairs
Ashley Wanninger	...	Ashley
Emma Colberti	...	Charlotte
Fabien de Jomaron	...	Claude
Carla	...	Model
Pierre Maufront	...	Photographer
Antoine Amador	...	Hairdresser
Roman Rouzier	...	Echography technician
Oliver Buchette	...	Head doctor (as Olivier Buchette)
Emmanuelle N'Guyen	...	Midwife (as Emmanuelle N'guyen)
Nadia Latoui	...	Nurse

Storyline

Although deeply in love with her boyfriend - and indeed sleeping in the same bed with him - a schoolteacher cannot handle the almost complete lack of intimacy he will allow. Increasingly frustrated, she gradually finds her sexual appetites leading her into ever more risky situations, including a developing one with the headmaster.

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Plot Keywords:

vulva | bondage | ejaculation | anal sex | female full frontal nudity | 

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Taglines:

Love is desolate. Romance is temporary. Sex is forever.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and strong sexual content including dialogue

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Catherine Breillat admitted to choosing Italian porn star Rocco Siffredi to play Paolo because she wanted a well-endowed actor in the role.

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Goofs

At the end of the movie, Marie feels she'll give birth soon, so she tries to wake up Paul. During this scene she moves in a way which is impossible for a woman in her state of pregnancy.

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Quotes

Marie: Women are the expiatory sacrifices of men.

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Alternate Versions

Although the BBFC passed the film uncut for British cinemas, they required 1 second to be removed from the video version. The cut to the UK video and DVD versions removed a brief close-up of a man ejaculating onto a woman's stomach. This occurs at the end of a fantasy brothel sequence, and is followed by a jump-cut to a similar shot of ultra-sound gel being squirted onto Caroline Trousselard's stomach. Without the first shot, however, the effect is lost in the cut UK version. In 2014, the previous video cut was waived by the BBFC for the DVD release distributed by Second Sight Films.

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Connections

Referenced in The History of Hardcore (2002)

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Soundtracks

Free your mind and your ass will follow
Written by George Clinton (as George Clinton Jr)
Performed by Funkadelic
© Copyright Bridgeport Music Inc
Avec l'aimable autorisation de Westbound Records (p) 1970

User Reviews

Skip the R-rated version and go for the NC-17 version.

Though I have a comprehensive review below I wanted to add that some comments here are from people who saw a severely edited version of the film (the sex scenes removed or cropped off). This would be similar to removing the battle scenes from Star Wars.

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French English

Release Date:

14 April 1999 (France)

Also Known As:

Romance

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$44,829, 19 September 1999

Gross USA:

$1,585,642

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,585,642

Company Credits

Production Co:

Flach Film, CB Films, Arte France Cinéma

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min 99 min (unrated)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1