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| Tookey's Review |
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| Pro Reviews |
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| Mixed Reviews |
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| Anti Reviews |
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| Trailer |
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| Cast |
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| Released: |
1939 |
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| Genre: |
DRAMA
FOREIGN
ROMANCE
COMEDY
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| Origin: |
France |
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| Length: |
113 |
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A weekend shooting party at a country chateau degenerates into fights, squabbles and amorous intrigues
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Reviewed by Chris Tookey
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| Half-farcical, half-serious portrait of a decadent aristocracy and a disunited France on the brink of war. The political overtones ensured that it was banned in France before the war as "too demoralising", then refused release by Vichy and German authorities. Since it became available in the 50s, international critics have often voted it one of the best films of all time. |
| Technically, it is remarkable for containing only 337 shots; cameraman Jean Bachelet uses deep focus and a moving camera to transport us from one group of characters to another. Some of the set-pieces, especially the rabbit hunt, are masterly. |
| Most of all, though, it is notable for its variations in tone, starting off as sunny farce and ending as bleak tragedy. The fact that the actors carry this off is little short of miraculous. |
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| "During the shooting of the film I was torn between my desire to make a comedy of it and the wish to tell a tragic story. The result of this ambivalence was the film as it is." |
| (Jean Renoir) |
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, Nora Gregor, Jean Renoir 
