Muriel
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Alain Resnais
Delphine Seyrig
Jean-pierre Kérien
Nita Klein
Jean-baptiste Thierrée
Claude Sainval
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Hlène Aughain is a widow in her late thirties who lives in the French port of Boulogne-sur-Mer and earns her living by selling antiques from her apartment. Also living at the apartment is her stepson Bernard, who is haunted by the part he took during the Algerian War in the torture and ultimate death of a young Algerian named Muriel. Despite the fact that she has a devoted lover, de Smoke, Hélène cannot forget Alphonse, who had been her first love when she was 16 and from whom she had become separated during World War II. Consequently, she invites him to visit her when she learns of his present whereabouts. Alphonse arrives with his mistress Françoise, whom he passes off as his niece. Françoise, a young actress, becomes attracted to the introspective Bernard. During the 2 weeks the four spend together, despite mutual experiences and memories, they remain strangers to each other. Bernard, in a fit of remorse, kills a war buddy, Robert, who was directly involved in the death of Muriel. Hélène, unable to recapture her lost youth, finds it impossible to establish a rapport with Alphonse; and the arrival of Ernest, Alphonse's brother-in-law who has come to take Alphonse home, makes Hélène realize the truth about Alphonse--that he is a self-satisfied "dreamer" who never amounted to much. Françoise returns to Paris; she cannot find happiness with either Bernard or Alphonse. Bernard packs up and leaves; Alphonse evades Ernest by running away; Hélène goes to visit some old, tranquil friends; and a strange woman, Alphonse's wife, wanders through the now empty apartment.
Director
Alain Resnais
Cast
Delphine Seyrig
Jean-pierre Kérien
Nita Klein
Jean-baptiste Thierrée
Claude Sainval
Laurence Badie
Jean Champion
Jean Dasté
Martine Vatel
Philippe Laudenbach
Robert Bordenave
Gaston Joly
Catherine De Seynes
Julien Verdier
Rita Streich
Gérard Lorin
Françoise Bertin
Wanda Kérien
Jean-jacques Lagarde
Yves Vincent
Crew
Sylvette Baudrot
Antoine Bonfanti
Philippe Brun
Jean Cayrol
Michel Choquet
Philippe Choquet
Paul Colline
Anatole Dauman
Philippe Dussart
Hans Werner Henze
Liliane De Kermadec
Jan Lenica
Jean Léon
Paul Maye
Claudine Merlin
Kenout Peltier
Eric Pluet
Jacques Saulnier
Sacha Vierny
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Released in France in 1963 as Muriel, ou le temps d'un retour at 120 min. Italian title: Muriel, il tempo di un ritorno. Claudine Merlin is credited by only one source as film editor.
Miscellaneous Notes
Winner of the Best Actress Prize (Seyrig) at the 1963 Venice Film Festival.
Released in United States 1963
Released in United States 1990
Released in United States July 24, 1963
Released in United States June 1, 1990
Released in United States November 1963
Released in United States October 22, 1963
Released in United States September 18, 1963
Released in United States Winter January 1, 1963
Shown at 1963 Venice Film Festival.
Shown at London Film Festival October 22, 1963.
Shown at New York Film Festival September 18, 1963.
Shown at Pacific Film Archive (A Producer's Vision: Anatole Dauman) in Berkeley, California June 1, 1990.
Shown at San Francisco International Film Festival (Tribute to Anatole Dauman) April 30 - May 13, 1990.
Began shooting November 1962.
Released in United States 1963 (Shown at 1963 Venice Film Festival.)
Released in United States Winter January 1, 1963
Completed shooting January 1963.
Released in United States 1990 (Shown at San Francisco International Film Festival (Tribute to Anatole Dauman) April 30 - May 13, 1990.)
Released in United States June 1, 1990 (Shown at Pacific Film Archive (A Producer's Vision: Anatole Dauman) in Berkeley, California June 1, 1990.)
Released in United States July 24, 1963 (Premiered in Paris July 24, 1963.)
Released in United States September 18, 1963 (Shown at New York Film Festival September 18, 1963.)
Released in United States October 22, 1963 (Shown at London Film Festival October 22, 1963.)
Released in United States November 1963
