Julie Jezequel Movies
- 1989
- R
The French military is known for its draconian treatment of soldiers who desert or otherwise tangibly register disagreements with official policy. In this movie the story takes place during the Algerian War (late 1950s). Alain (Luc Thullier) is a deserter who has been sent back to the front lines as a member of a special disciplinary battalion. Such battalions are given only the most dangerous assignments, and most of the soldiers in them are expected to die in combat. As his unit skirmishes with the enemy, it suffers many losses until Alain is the only one left. Freed from supervision once more, he escapes again, this time to Tunisia, with the intention of trying to inform the French public about what is really happening in Algeria. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Luc Thuillier, Julie Jezequel, (more)
- 1985
In this slow-paced thriller set just before D-Day in Paris, Gus Lang (Ed Harris) is an American agent who has to make sure a captured U.S. officer is not forced to divulge the secret of the Normandy invasion. Since audiences know the invasion worked, the success of Gus Lang's espionage forays into Nazi officialdom, and the French resistance appears to be a foregone conclusion. At least Paris provides an excellent backdrop for his undercover work, both with the attractive Claire Jouvet (Cyrielle Claire) and the less-attractive Nazi military. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ed Harris, Horst Buchholz, (more)
- 1987
In the middle of the most famous red light (prostitution) area in Paris, there is an apartment building on the Rue Saint Denis whose young adult inhabitants engage in lustful and romantic alliances of all kinds, in this independent film by first-time director Stephanie de Mareuil. One standout from the cast of mostly newcomers is pop musician Caroline Loeb. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Caroline Loeb, Roger Mirmont, (more)
- 1984
Overly philosophical and obscure, this talkative mystery remains enigmatic through long, rambling discussions, the murder of a clown who recites surrealist poetry to school children, the release of a barge-owner accused of the murder, and the journey of two half-sisters to Paris. Confusing and inscrutable, this mystery seems destined to permanently remain that way. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bérangere Bonvoisin, Julie Jezequel, (more)
- 1989
Francois (Pierre-Loup Rajot) has just moved into a small community in the French Pyrenees mountains. He applies for work at a small logging mill, run with great craftsmanship but indifferent business skill by Favier (Guy Marchand), the son-in-law of the owner, Mathieu (Serge Reggiani). Francois has an ally in another man who works at the mill, Cyuri (Wotjek Pszoniak), who had formerly been his mother's lover. With his help, he easily settles into his job. He also quickly becomes the lover of his boss's wife Marie (Julie Jezequel). This leads to complications for all concerned, but as decent people, they find themselves at something of a standoff and are unable to resolve the situation easily. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Serge Reggiani, Julie Jezequel, (more)
- 1994
This French film offers a powerful fictionalized account of renowned French poet, actor, and intellectual Antonin Artaud who in life walked a fine, often blurred line between genius and insanity. It is told from the viewpoint of Artaud's intimate friend, student, and pusher, the poet Jacques Prevel. The story begins in late Spring 1946 as Artaud is released from a Rodez asylum where he stayed for nine years. He returns to Paris where Prevel, eager to resume their mentor student relationship, patiently waits. The last two years of Artaud's life provide the focus for much of the film. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sami Frey, Marc Barbé, (more)
- 1979
When the local police inspector was found dead in a prostitute's house, police division commissioner Stan Borowitz (Jean-Paul Belmondo) is sent to investigate the situation. Posing as the prostitute's long-lost brother "Antonio Cerruti," he discovers a mare's nest of police corruption. In fact, in this comedy thriller the whole town is corrupt. If they were closely examined, Stan's methods for pursuing this investigation might embarrass the police. For instance, he drives into a criminal's house in a fancy, expensive race car. In another incident, he callously blows up a casino owned by Musard (Georges Geret), one of the town's crime bosses. On that occasion, he first forces Musard to remove his clothes, and the poor criminal watches his casino explode from across the square while standing naked in a phone booth. Meanwhile, Stan seduces the lovely Edmonde (Marie Laforet). This box-office smash was the first of four wildly successful collaborations between Belmondo and director Georges Lautner. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean-Paul Belmondo, Marie Laforêt, (more)
- 1982
- PG
This thriller about a mysterious psychopath was based on a novel by Georges Simenon. Edouard Binet (Philippe Noiret), an aimless Frenchman who has spent several years travelling in Northern Africa, is sailing to Belgium when he meets an attractive woman named Sylvie Baron (Fanny Cottencon). Edouard introduces Sylvie to Nemrod (Gamil Ratib), a wealthy Egyptian who is traveling with a cache of valuable jewelry. Sylvie and Nemrod hit it off and soon become lovers, which stirs an insane jealousy inside Edouard. Days later, Edouard arrives in blood-stained clothes at a rooming house owned by Mme. Baron (Simone Signoret), Sylvie's mother. It seems that Nemrod was killed aboard a train after his ship arrived in France, though Edouard claims no knowledge of the events. Sylvie suspects that Edouard is responsible for Nemrod's death, but the enigmatic Edouard has gained a trusted ally in Mme. Baron. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Philippe Noiret, Simone Signoret, (more)
- 1987
Racism and the games people play with it aren't unique to the U.S. by any means. In this French comedy, Rachid, a nice-looking Arab boy, plays with the pervasive fear of non-whites in Paris by having two friends approach pretty girls while looking as sinister as they can, so that he can "rescue" them and strike up an acquaintance. When he and Denis, a black West Indies man, find themselves in pursuit of the same girl, oddly enough, they become best friends. They team up in order to try and persuade the girl's parents that they are respectable enough to rent an apartment from them. However, as any person of color knows, this is far more easily said than done wherever race (and class) are issues. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Julie Jezequel, Smain, (more)
- 1983
Based on Erskine Caldwell's novel, Le Batard could also refer to this French film born from an American novel, with the American South transformed into the south of France. An unemotive Gerard Klein is Patrice, the Paris automobile mechanic who travels to Marseille to identify the body of his loose-living and long-lost mother, who has been found murdered. After proceeding to kill off her barroom boss, he meanders around the south of France looking for sexual relationships. He comes across a teenage musician and is attracted enough to her obvious appeal to establish a more permanent liaison, taking her with him to Paris to set up housekeeping -- for she is pregnant. Soon she is driven to the limits of depression and boredom caring for their home and a new baby, and he has reached his limits of confinement and responsibility -- so he takes off again. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gerard Klein, Julie Jezequel, (more)
- 1985
On Ne Meurt Que Deux Fois, a French murder mystery based upon a novel of the same name, is an unusual, involving film with excellent performances by its entire cast. Police Inspector Staniland (Michel Serrault) is investigating the death of a pianist. While conducting his investigation and looking through the victim's apartment, he meets Barbara (Charlotte Rampling), the mistress of the murder victim. Barbara confesses to the crime, but Staniland, based on his observations and experience, does not believe her. He then sets out to find the truth, with surprising results. Both Serrault and Rampling are outstanding in this well-directed, well-paced film. On Ne Meurt Que Deux Fois was also released as He Died With His Eyes Open and won the Jury Prize at the 1985 Montreal World Film Festival. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michel Serrault, Charlotte Rampling, (more)
- 1986
A long parade of actors and actresses pop up in an unconnected series of skits, vignettes, and sight gags in this comedy anthology by Jean Curtelin. Among the sketches performed is one with Jean Carmet playing a man from the sticks woefully burdened with the challenge of getting through a dog food commercial on less than one tank of intelligible French. Another skit shows a silent duel between an airport custodian and an automatic door, while another with the renowned Michel Galabru sets up a strange teacher-student exchange. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Andréa Ferréol, Pierre Arditi, (more)
- 1987
A fading television personality and radio quiz-show host is shielded by his right-hand man from learning his show has been cancelled in this situation comedy. Rivetot (Gerard Jugnot) is the loyal longtime assistant to Mortez (Jean Rochefort) who believes the news of the show's demise will be fatal to his boss. He tries to keep the news from Mortez as long as possible as the show travels from town to town. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean Rochefort, Gérard Jugnot, (more)
- 1991
While contemplating her single state, an unmarried woman writer tosses and turns in bed. Her lover, a doctor, wants her to join him in Paris. On the other hand, she thinks maybe she should end the relationship. All of a sudden, as she lies restless in bed, she is struck with inspiration for three separate stories, which the film shows. In "A Man And Two Women," a married woman who has just given birth to a baby is entertaining a female friend of hers at their home and suggests that the friend and her husband start an affair, since all her energy is tied up in the baby. This suggestion heightens the sexual tension already present among the three players. In "One Another," a married woman gets rid of her husband and chooses to become romantically involved with her brother instead. In "Our Friend Judith," a woman finds a sense of renewal while on vacation on the island of Elba by bedding her handsome hairdresser. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Valerie Stroh, Lambert Wilson, (more)
