The Things of Life

1h 30m 1970

Brief Synopsis

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Ein Unfall, wie er sich berall ereignet: Pierre, ein erfolgreicher Mitvierziger rast mit seinem Auto gegen einen Baum. In dem wattigen Traumzustand zwischen Unfall und Tod im Krankenhaus suchen ihn die letzten Erinnerungen heim: Die Trennung von seiner Freundin Helene, die Gedanken an seine ehemalige Frau Catherine, Erlebnisse mit seinem Freund und seinem Sohn.... Ein nicht abgeschickter Abschiedsbrief an Helene in seiner Tasche wird nach seinem Tod Catherine ausgehndigt. Doch Pierre wollte Helene nicht verlassen... Ein banaler Unfall, ein banaler Zufall, der die eine Frau flschlicherweise in tiefste Verzweiflung strzt und der anderen zu einem falschen Sieg verhilft. Banale, lcherliche, trgerische kleine Dinge des Lebens...

Cast & Crew

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Claude Sautet

Director

Michel Piccoli

Pierre

Romy Schneider

Hélène

Lea Massari

Catherine

Gérard Lartigau

Bertrand

Jean Bouise

François

Film Details

Also Known As
Les choses de la vie
MPAA Rating
Genre
Drama
Foreign
Release Date
Jan 1970
Premiere Information
New York opening: 31 Aug 1970
Production Company
Fida Cinematografica; Lira Films; Sonocam
Distribution Company
Columbia Pictures
Country
France
Screenplay Information
Based on the novel Les choses de la vie by Paul Guimard (Paris, 1967).

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 30m
Sound
Mono
Color
Color (Eastmancolor)
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.66 : 1

Synopsis

Pierre, a middle-aged architect, is having an affair with Hélène, who is much younger than he and does not understand his reluctance to abandon everything in his past. In spite of his love for Hélène, he still has strong feelings for his estranged wife, Catherine, their son François, and his elderly father. Hélène tries to persuade him to take her on a vacation to Tunisia so that they can be alone, but he evades the issue and instead promises to take François sailing at the family resort on Île de Ré. After a party at Hélène's home, she demands that Pierre make a decision about their future. While on a business trip in Rennes, he writes her a letter explaining that their relationship must end, but he changes his mind and decides not to mail it. On the way home, however, he has an automobile accident and dies. Catherine arrives at the hospital before Hélène and destroys the letter which she finds in Pierre's coat pocket.

Director

Claude Sautet

Director

Cast

Michel Piccoli

Pierre

Romy Schneider

Hélène

Lea Massari

Catherine

Gérard Lartigau

Bertrand

Jean Bouise

François

Boby Lapointe

Driver of pig truck

Hervé Sand

Truckdriver

Henri Nassiet

Pierre's father

Marcelle Arnold

Hélène's mother

Roger Crouzet

Promoter

Jean-pierre Zola

Hélène's father

Betty Beckers

Dominique Zardi

Hitchhikers

Gabrielle Doulcet

Guitte

Jacques Richard

Nurse

Claude Confortes

Doctor

Jerry Brouer

Suitor

Jean Gras

Building site foreman

Marie-pierre Casey

Postmistress

Gérard Streiff

Motorcyclist

Max Amyl

Priest

Isabelle Saroyan

Nurse

M. Carmet

Paul

Raoul Delpard

Ambulance man

Loudiche

Intern

Christian Bertola

Surgeon

Beram

Luigi

Policemen

Karine Jeantet

Telephonist

Madame Blome

Madame Duval

Customers at post office

Crew

Alexandre Of Paris

Hairstyles

Marie-claude Bariset

Assistant film Editor (see note)

Ralph Baum

Production Manager

Jean Boffety

Director of Photography

Jean Bolvary

Associate Producer

Jean Catala

Prop

Henry Clairon

Camera

Blanche Cochet

Prod Secretary

Geneviève Cortier

Screenplay girl

Jacques Cottin

Wardrobe master

Jean-loup Dabadie

Screenwriter

Jean-loup Dabadie

Dial

Raymond Danon

Executive Producer

Pierre Davoust

Assistant Sound eng

Jean-michel Defaye

Orchestration

Paul Dufour

Studio Manager

Roland Girard

Associate Producer

Jean Guillaume

Assistant studio Manager

Christian Guillouet

Camera

Paul Guimard

Screenwriter

François Lartigue

Assistant Camera

Guy Lecouvette

Assistant Camera

René Longuet

Sound Engineer

Claude Mathieu

Stills

Jean Neny

Mix

André Piltant

Art Director

Alex Pront

Mix

Philippe Sarde

Music

Marie-claude Sarnak

Assistant film Editor (see note)

Claude Sautet

Screenwriter

Irène Servet

Makeup

Louis Seuret

Loc Manager

Gerald Streiff

Special Effects

Gérard Streiff

Accident sequence adv

Jean-claude Sussfeld

Assistant Director

Jacqueline Thiedot

Film Editor

Frédéric Tsikinsan

Props

Claude Vital

Assistant Director

Film Details

Also Known As
Les choses de la vie
MPAA Rating
Genre
Drama
Foreign
Release Date
Jan 1970
Premiere Information
New York opening: 31 Aug 1970
Production Company
Fida Cinematografica; Lira Films; Sonocam
Distribution Company
Columbia Pictures
Country
France
Screenplay Information
Based on the novel Les choses de la vie by Paul Guimard (Paris, 1967).

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 30m
Sound
Mono
Color
Color (Eastmancolor)
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.66 : 1

Quotes

Trivia

Notes

Opened in Paris in March 1970 as Les choses de la vie; running time: 88 min. Sources conflict in crediting assistant editor.

Miscellaneous Notes

Released in United States 1970

Released in United States 1970

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