Louis Coline assists the head of advertising of a department store in decline. He has little to do, but seems content with his marriage to Nina, his visits to his mother and grandmother, and poker games with friends. When new boss Bernard Malair arrives to turn the store around, Louis fears for his job; but Bernard, with his numbers man Paul and his factotum François, invites Louis into an inner circle of long hours of work, nightclubs, and dinners with an androgynous vamp. Nina objects, but Louis cannot say no to Bernard’s demands, no matter how personal. In desperation, Nina leaves Louis, but that drives him further into Bernard’s orbit. Can anything break this spell?
Director: Pierre Granier-Deferre. AKA Strange Affair
Stars: Michel Piccoli, Gérard Lanvin, Nathalie Baye, Jean-Pierre Kalfon, Jean-François Balmer, Pierre Michaël, Madeleine Cheminat, Victor Garrivier, Dominique Blanchar, André Chaumeau, Jacques Boudet, Ariane Lartéguy, Nicolas Vogel, Dominique Zardi, Humbert Balsan.
1981 Winner Prix Louis Delluc.
1982 Berlin International Film Festival – Nominated for the Golden Bear.
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AKA Strange Affair
Despite good ratings and positive reviews and justifications elsewhere, I found this film a little predictable and unsatisfying. Surely one could not be so weak as the main character if your partner was the ever-wonderful Nathalie Baye (!!)– who ends up sadly sidelined. Excellent acting all around, as you’d expect, and good for the frustrating horror of it, but one watch was enough.
Having said that, I was very glad to be able to see it.
Many thanks Rarefilmm.