Histoire de Paul (1975)

A young man is put in the psychiatric ward of a hospital.

Director:

René Féret

Writer:

René Féret

Stars:

Paul Allio, Michel Amphoux, Roland Amstutz

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Paul Allio	...	Paul Darras
Michel Amphoux	...	Le costaud
Roland Amstutz	...	Roland - un infirmier
Pierre Banderet	...	Un infirmier (as Pierre Ascaride)
Jean Benguigui	...	L'Italien
Bernard Bloch	...	Jacques dit l'harmonica - un fou
Claude Bouchery	...	Antoine dit l'angoisse - un fou
Gildas Bourdet	...	L'interne
Isabelle Caillard	...	Brigitte
Florence Camarroque	...	La psychologue
Rémy Carpentier	...	L'infirmier
Philippe Clévenot	...	L'amnésique
Georges Conti	...	Le mystique - un fou
Gérard Cruchet	...	Un malade de la salle B.
Jean Dautremay	...	La voix forte - un fou

Storyline

Following a failed suicide attempt, Paul, a young man, is sent to a psychiatric hospital. In a state of shock, he refuses to eat and drink. After a while, in order to make him go straight, the doctors have him transferred to ward B, where the methods used are more brutal and the patients more dangerous. Paul finally yields and becomes the "obedient madman" he is supposed to be.

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Plot Keywords:

male objectification | suicide attempt | attempted suicide | medical examination | doctor | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

15 October 1975 (France)

Also Known As:

Pauls Geschichte

Filming Locations:

Armentières, Nord, France

Box Office

Budget:

FRF 200,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les Films Arquebuse

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Did You Know?

Trivia

"Histoire de Paul" is inspired by an episode of René Féret's life. Just like Paul, Féret, upset by the death of his father, attempted suicide and failed and was interned in a psychiatric hospital.

User Reviews

A highly original film about laws and mechanism of a madhouse ! ! ! !

French film maker René Féret made his début with this film in 1974.It was his first critical success and applause for it came from famous French philosopher Michel Foucault who compared this film to British master Ken Loach's film "Family Life".This comparison is absolutely valid as like Ken Loach who has been an ardent supporter depicting the cause of English life in his films,René Féret has also championed the cause of Northern France in films.For those who are bothered about story and plot there is not much of hope.The real story of this film,if there is any story,is to be judged by the fact that film's helpless protagonist Paul has been condemned to a madhouse after a failed suicide attempt.Paul's plight is the central focus of the film as in psychiatric ward,he is compelled neither to have any history nor any story.What we see in this film is a sad tale which takes place in a psychiatric hospital whose inmates,doctors live according to their own set of rules.As a scathing attack on the absurdity of system in French mental institutions,L'histoire de Paul won Jean Vigo award in 1974.