Romance (1999)

Director:

Catherine Breillat

Writer:

Catherine Breillat (scenario and dialogue)

Release Date:

14 April 1999 (Belgium)

Genre:

Adult | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Love is desolate. Romance is temporary. Sex is forever.

Plot:

Although deeply in love with her boyfriend - and indeed sleeping in the same bed with him - a schoolteacher...

Plot Keywords:

Love | Jealousy | Auto Accident | Irony | Cafe

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Caroline Ducey	...	Marie
Sagamore Stévenin	...	Paul
François Berléand	...	Robert
Rocco Siffredi	...	Paolo
Reza Habouhossein	...	Man on stairs
Ashley Wanninger	...	Ashley
Emma Colberti	...	Charlotte
Fabien de Jomaron	...	Claude
Carla	...	Model
Pierre Maufront	...	Photographer
Antoine Amador	...	Hairdresser
Roman Rouzier	...	Echography technician
Oliver Buchette	...	Head doctor (as Olivier Buchette)
Emmanuelle N'Guyen	...	Midwife (as Emmanuelle N'guyen)
Nadia Latoui	...	Nurse
Sylvie Drieu	...	Assistant nurse
Samuel Charter	...	Intern (as Samuel Chartier)
Alexis Gignoux	...	Intern
Muriel Gregoire	...	Intern (as Muriel Grégoire)
Sebastien Jochmans	...	Intern (as Sébastien Jochmans)
Emmanuel Salengro	...	Intern
Christian Poitrasson	...	Lone man
Roberto Malone
Coco
Steve Cox
Jean-Pierre Daniel
Fovéa
Bernard Garreau
Hervé P. Gustave		(as Pierre-Gustave Hervé)
Kosta
Alain L'Yle		(as Alain Lille)
Kevin Long
Aziz
Marco
Karine Menachemoff
Angélique Polosse
Salomé
Cédric Samson
Yamine Tamerhoulet
Tramber
Vince
Caroline Virly

Directed by
Catherine Breillat

Writing credits
Catherine Breillat		(scenario and dialogue)

Produced by
Catherine Jacques	....	executive producer
Jean-François Lepetit	....	producer

Original Music by
Raphaël Tidas
DJ Valentin		(as D.J. Valentin)

Cinematography by
Giorgos Arvanitis

Film Editing by
Agnès Guillemot

Casting by
Estelle Bertrand
Jacques Grant
Catherine Hofer
Nicolas Lublin
Guylène Péan
Michaël Weill

Production Design by
Frédérique Belvaux

Art Direction by
Valérie Leblanc Weber

Set Decoration by
Alexis Forestier
Pierre Gerbaux
Julien Poitou-Weber		(as Julien Poitou Weber)

Costume Design by
Ann Dunsford		(as Anne Dunsford Varenne)

Makeup Department
Antoine Amador	....	additional hair stylist
Claire Monatte	....	hair stylist
Claire Monatte	....	makeup artist
Christian Morales	....	additional hair stylist
Pascal Thiollier	....	additional makeup artist

Production Management
Max Belmessieri	....	production manager
Bernard Brun	....	post-production supervisor
Laurent Charchaude	....	production manager
Philippe Guérinel	....	production manager
Eddy Jabès	....	production manager
Samir Larif	....	production manager (as Samir Larrif)
Jean-Marc Maestracci	....	production manager
Eric Margolis	....	production manager
Denis Oliveau-Lebreton	....	production manager
Anne Rogé	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Fabrice Bigot	....	second assistant director
Catherine Hofer	....	assistant director
Michaël Weill	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Pascal Bloquet	....	painter
Pqtrice Colardelli	....	carpenter foreman
Michel Courtemanche	....	carpenter
Bruno Devresse	....	carpenter
Olivier Garand	....	painter
Alain Gosse	....	chief constructor
Daniel Grimm	....	assistant decorator
Peter Hammond	....	painter
Alexandre Jacques	....	intern art department
Emmanuel Jaffre	....	carpenter
Frédéric Jourdan	....	carpenter
Alexandra Koubbachian	....	assistant decorator
Brigitte Lefranc	....	painter
Alexandra Pulman	....	exteriors
Christine Rey	....	tapestries
Véronique Robinson	....	carpenter
Gérard Simonet	....	chief carpenter

Sound Department
Emmanuel Augeard	....	chief sound editor
Marc Authesserre	....	head sound department
Eric Bonnard	....	sound mixer (as Erix Bonnard)
Pascal Chauvin	....	sound effects
Pascal Dedeye	....	assistant sound effects
Joël Jacovella	....	assistant sound editor
Paul Lainé	....	sound
Marie Massiani	....	chief sound effects operator
Pascale Paoli	....	sound assistant
Peggy Rivoallan	....	assistant sound engineer
Eric Tisserand	....	head sound department
Alexandre Vraux	....	assistant sound editor

Camera and Electrical Department
Yorgos Angelou	....	key grip
Thierry Engler	....	electrician
Yorgos Giannelis	....	assistant camera
Izet Kutlovac	....	key electrician
Eric Le Roux	....	Steadicam operator (as Eric Leroux)
Gilles Papillon	....	electrician
Sergio Rodrigues	....	electrician
Simos Sarketzis	....	second assistant camera
Alain Thernisson	....	electrician
Roger-Paul Tizio	....	assistant camera

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Janet Latimer	....	costumer
Janine Schlumberger	....	seamstress

Editorial Department
Bernard Bran	....	post-production
Fabrice Dequeant	....	color timer
Christophe Nowak	....	assistant editor
Agnès Touzeau	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Stéphane Ackermann	....	composer: song "Dorn"
Carolyn Donovan	....	composer: song "Spanish Storm"
Bruno Kramm	....	composer: additional music
Jean-Marie Leau	....	music coordinator
Jonathan Lesane	....	composer: song "Spanish Storm"
Sean Spencer	....	composer: song "Spanish Storm"

Other crew
Max Belmessieri	....	location scout
Patrice Birzin	....	groupman
Frédéric Bouchet	....	production administrator
Didier Dekeyser	....	laboratory technician
Marie-Christine Gauchée	....	production administrator
Valéry Guibal	....	finance director
Jean-François Lepetit	....	presenter
Mélissa	....	double: "Marie"
Georges Polonia	....	groupman
Dominique Rémy	....	production secretary
Séverine Siaut	....	script supervisor
Emmanuelle Wiclezinski	....	location scout

Thanks
Luc Barnier	....	thanks
Richard Boidin	....	thanks
Christian Bourgois	....	thanks
Gilles Cappelletto	....	thanks (as Gilles Cappeletto)
Jérôme Deschamps	....	thanks
Gilles Garnier	....	thanks
Georges Goldenstern	....	thanks
Christian Guillon	....	thanks
Marc Tessier	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Flach Film (co-production)
• CB Films (co-production)
• arte France Cinéma (co-production) (as ARTE France Cinéma)
• Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC) (participation)
• Procirep (supported by)
• Canal+ (participation)

Distributors

• Rézo Films (1999) (France) (theatrical)
• Pyramide International (1999) (worldwide) (all media)
• Éditions Montparnasse (2002) (France) (DVD)
• Alfa Films (1999) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Angel Films (2000) (Denmark) (theatrical)
• Arthaus Filmverleih (2000) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Atlantis Entertainment (2000) (Czechoslovakia) (theatrical)
• Cinema Mondo (1999) (Finland) (theatrical)
• First Distributors (1999) (Hong Kong) (theatrical)
• Lolafilms Distribución (1999) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Trimark Pictures (1999) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Canvas (2004) (Belgium) (TV) (first national airing)
• Homescreen (2000) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• Irfan Film (1999) (Turkey) (all media)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• Madman Entertainment (2001) (Australia) (DVD)
• Trimark Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Vidmark Entertainment (2001) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Christian Lacroix  costumes: Arènes d'Arles
• C.J. Production  executive production
• Christian Lacroix  thanks
• Comptoir des Cotonniers  thanks
• Dries Van Noten  thanks
• Zucca  thanks
• Agnès B.  thanks
• Quick Faune  thanks
• L'Etude et la Supervision des Trucages (L'E.S.T.)  thanks
• Tampopo  thanks
• Lou Major Photo  thanks
• Assurances Continentales, Les  insurance
• Auditel  editing
• Cininter  electrical equipment
• Davidis  auditorium
• Digison  auditorium
• Ercidan  titles
• FKGB Arguments  publicity
• GTC Joinville  auditorium
• Planning Caméra  steadicam
• Samalga  camera equipment provided by
• Transpalux  electrical equipment
• Tri-Track Sync  post-synchronization

Also Known As:

Romance X (poster title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and strong sexual content including dialogue.

Runtime:

84 min | USA:99 min (unrated version)

Country:

France

Language:

French | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:R (reclassification) | Australia:X (original rating) | Iceland:16 | Finland:K-15 (uncut) (DVD rating) | Finland:K-18 (original rating) | Japan:R-18 | Singapore:(Banned) | Argentina:18 | Canada:18+ (Quebec) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) (cut US version) | Canada:A (Alberta) | Canada:R (British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:XXX (Nova Scotia) | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 (re-rating) | France:-16 | Germany:18 | Hong Kong:III | Ireland:(Banned) | Italy:VM18 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:18 | South Korea:18 (original rating) (cut) | South Korea:Limited (re-release) (uncut) | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:18 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:18 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | USA:R (cut) | USA:Unrated

Company:

Flach Film

Trivia:

While it was passed uncut for theatrical release in the UK, a one-second cut was made for its video release.

Goofs:

Factual errors: At the end of the movie, Marie feels she'll give birth soon, so she tries to wake up Paul. During this scene she moves in a way which is impossible for a woman in her state of pregnancy.

Quotes:

[last lines]
Marie: I gave my son his father's name. If someone up there counts souls, then we're even.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Il tiranno (2000) (V)

Soundtrack:

Dorn

A misunderstood masterpiece..?

Same as the likewise French exploitationer "Baise-moi", which was released almost at the same time as this movie, there are some scenes of hardcore pornography added. But as "Baise-moi" only concentrates on surface visuals the message of "Romance" is to explain the emotional conflict of love and sexuality between men and women - told from a female point of view.

A strange film at all, but also very fascinating and interesting executed - as long as you can put up its long dialogue-sequences, the sometimes metaphoric style and the fact that "Romance" is quite difficult to watch... Not the kind of stuff you´re normally used to enjoy as pure entertainment, because you´ll need time and nerves to sit this through..!

8/10