Le feu follet (1963)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

Louis Malle

Writer:

Pierre Drieu La Rochelle (novel)

Release Date:

7 October 1966 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Alain Leroy is having a course of treatment in a private hospital because of his problem with alcohol...

Plot Keywords:

Paris | Versailles | Psychological Drama | Depression | Alcoholism

Awards:

2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Maurice Ronet	...	Alain Leroy
Léna Skerla	...	Lydia
Yvonne Clech	...	Mademoiselle Farnoux
Hubert Deschamps	...	D'Averseau
Jean-Paul Moulinot	...	Dr. La Barbinais
Mona Dol	...	Madame La Barbinais
Pierre Moncorbier	...	Moraine
René Dupuy	...	Charlie (as René Dupuis)
Bernard Tiphaine	...	Milou
Bernard Noël	...	Dubourg
Ursula Kubler	...	Fanny
Jeanne Moreau	...	Eva
Alain Mottet	...	Urcel
François Gragnon	...	François Minville
Romain Bouteille	...	Jerome Minville

Also Known As:

A Time to Live and a Time to Die (UK)
The Fire Within (USA)
Will o' the Wisp (International: English title)

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Argentina:16 | UK:12 (DVD rating) | UK:15 (re-rating) (1992) | UK:X (original rating) | West Germany:18 (bw)

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Company:

Nouvelles Éditions de Films (NEF)

Trivia:

For the first two days, filming was done in color. However, director Louis Malle realized that this was a distraction from the story, so he decided to film in black-and-white.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: As Alain walks on the streets of Paris, the crew (pushing the dolly) is visible on the shop windows he passes by.

Quotes:

Alain Leroy: The sensitivity was in my heart, not my hands.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

The Terrible Vision

One extraordinary feature of this film is what I would call a "filter". Right from the start, the viewer knows that Alain is hurriedly (yet half-heartedly) searching for something that would give him the will to live, otherwise he will commit suicide. This extremely simple premise leads to extraordinary effects: the everyday happenings, which would seem neutral or even pleasant in any other circumstance, now fill us with disgust. Through the filter of Alain's eyes, we perceive the everyday reality as hopeless and empty of any worthwhile purpose. The author's message: you should apply that filter to your own life. But who has the guts to do it? I know I don't.