Une partie de plaisir (1975)

Director:

Claude Chabrol

Writer:

Paul Gégauff (written by)

Release Date:

15 January 1975 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Phillipe and Esther live an apparently idyllic life with their daughter, Elise. In an attempt to preserve this bliss...

Cast

Danièle Gegauff	...	Esther
Paul Gégauff	...	Philippe
Clemence Gégauff	...	Elise
Paula Moore	...	Sylvia Murdoch
Cécile Vassort	...	Annie
Giancarlo Sisti	...	Habib
Mario Santini	...	Rosco
Michel Valette	...	Katkof
Pierre Santini	...	Michel
Henri Attal	...	Le codétenu
Jean Cherlian
Jacqueline Clément
Alain David
Tony Librizzi
Dominique Marcas
Aurora Maris	...	Louise
Jean-Christophe Queff	...	François (as Jean-Chrsitophe Quef)
Isabelle Del Rio		(as Isabel Del Rio)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
René Piget	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Claude Chabrol

Writing credits
Paul Gégauff		(written by)

Produced by
André Génovès	....	producer

Original Music by
Pierre Jansen

Cinematography by
Jean Rabier

Film Editing by
Jacques Gaillard

Production Design by
Guy Littaye

Costume Design by
Nadine Dessalles

Makeup Department
Maud Begon	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Guy Azzi	....	executive in charge of production
Patrick Delauneux	....	unit manager
Pierre Gauchet	....	production manager
Louis Pichot	....	assistant unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Philippe Delabre	....	assistant director
Michel Dupuy	....	first assistant director
Claus Weeke	....	assistant director

Art Department
Henri Berger	....	property master

Sound Department
Guy Chichignoud	....	sound
Yvan Dacquay	....	assistant sound (as Yves Dacquay)
Louis Devaivre	....	foley artist
Maurice Gilbert	....	sound mixer

Camera and Electrical Department
Alain Douarinou	....	camera operator
André Marquette	....	assistant camera
Raymond Menvielle	....	assistant camera
Marie Savnier	....	still photographer (as Marie Saunier)

Editorial Department
Patrick Santini	....	assistant editor
Michel Simonnet	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Aurore Chabrol	....	script supervisor (as Aurore Paquiss)
Marie-Christine Lachiver	....	production secretary
Jacqueline Oblin	....	production administrator

Production Companies

• Gerico Sound
• Les Films de la Boétie
• Sunchild Productions

Distributors

• Les Films de la Boétie (1975) (France) (theatrical)
• Artificial Eye (1977) (UK)
• Connoisseur Video
• Joseph Green Pictures (1976) (USA) (subtitled)
• Pathfinder Pictures
• Peerless Films (1977) (Canada) (as "A Piece of Pleasure")

Also Known As:

A Piece of Pleasure (International: English title)
Pleasure Party (USA)
Una gita di piacere (Italy)
Ein lustiges Leben (West Germany) [de]
El juego del placer (Argentina) [es]
Erotiko party (Greece) [el]
Katkera vapaus (Finland) [fi]
Raffinerade nöjen (Sweden) [sv]
Una fiesta de placer (Spain) [es]

Runtime:

Argentina:97 min | USA:100 min

Country:

Italy | France

Language:

French

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | Argentina:16

Company:

Gerico Sound

One of cinema's least lovely characters.

Although from his great mid-period of domestic murder mysteries, UNE PARTIE DE PLAISIR is closer to Chabrol's later L'ENFER in its study of repressive, destructive male egotism. This virtually plotless film is almost impossible to watch, as we follow an unappealing, 'cultivated', bully humiliate and grind down his lover. His dictating of her life and sexual activity is a sublimation of his flagging power as he reaches middle-aged impotence. Engimatic treatment of class and professional status too.

Very much like Varda's LE BONHEUR, as a real-life couple in charming pastoral settings set to civilised classical music play out nasty fable. Whether the story turns into a Bressonian study of redemption is unclear.