Niels Arestrup Movies
European screen performer Niels Arestrup grew up in a middle-class family of Danish extraction, and gravitated toward acting as a young man, studying under the aegis of legendary drama instructor Tania Balachova. He took his initial foray into acting on-stage, but quickly moved into filmed work as well, in such noteworthy big-screen productions as Chantal Akerman's Je Tu Il Elle (1974), Alain Resnais' Stavisky (1974), and Jeanne Moreau's Lumière (1976). Arestrup's heavy involvement in theater continued over the following several decades, yet he remained extremely prolific on film, reaching memorable high points with leads in Marco Ferreri's unusual, provocative erotic drama The Future Is Woman (1984) and István Szabó's Karin Anderson biopic Meeting Venus (1991). In 2007, Arestrup achieved some international crossover success with his supporting contribution to Julian Schnabel's acclaimed Jean-Dominique Bauby biopic The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide- 1978
- R
Roland des Roncesvalles is a legendary knight from the age of chivalry in France. In the 11th-century epic La Chanson de Roland, he is depicted as a key figure in halting the advance of the Arabs into France. In this story, the 10th-century legend is staged by a group of 12th-century pilgrims using the 11th-century poem. Their acting is interrupted by a violent peasant uprising, which kills many of their number. However, one of the survivors, who was playing Roland (Klaus Kinski), is converted to the peasant cause and later speaks out in favor of more just treatment for the downtrodden. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Klaus Kinski, Dominique Sanda, (more)
- 1977
When they are called upon to investigate a sex murder, Melville and Pignon (Jean Carmet and Jean-Pierre Marielle), two rude and crude (not to mention racist) policemen, find themselves in the midst of the multicultural machinations of members of the international film community in fashionable St. Tropez. The real culprit is an extremely clever man, who knows that they can be counted on to arrest the most obvious suspect while he looks on. Nonetheless, they are dogged, serious men who hunt down every clue, and are unfazed by the carryings-on of the excitable artists they encounter. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean Carmet, Jean-Pierre Marielle, (more)
- 1977
"Radical chic" was a phenomenon of the upper classes in the late '60s and early '70s: liberal, socially concerned and very wealthy people would emulate the attitudes, mannerisms and style of the radicalized and revolutionary poor. They would even go so far as to socialize with revolutionaries and provide them with funding for their activities. In this drama, a similar group of bored rich people gets more involved with the radical element than they had planned, and things get out of hand. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Zouzou, Peter Chatel, (more)
- 1976
The idealism of the '60s is put to the test in the '70s in this Swiss film. When an outsider to a radical group offers to help the group get guns for an "action," they accept the guns, but reject him as a police provocateur. Because he lacks their help, his deeds on their behalf land him in prison. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Niels Arestrup, Jacqueline Parent, (more)
- 1976
Actress Jeanne Moreau made her directorial debut with this tale about a gathering of actresses who, over the course of an all-night conversation, come to reassess their careers and romantic lives. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Francine Racette, Jeanne Moreau, (more)
- 1976
Imprisoned as an accessory to murder, Catherine (Catherine Deneuve) gives birth to a son she conceived in prison. Eighteen years later, her sentence served, she is reunited with the boy, Simon (Jean-Jacques Briot), who has remained in an orphanage the entire time. She is accompanied by toothsome prison buddy Sarah (Anouk Aimée), and gradually these people whose lives have been frozen in time "thaw" and get on with the business of living. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Catherine Deneuve, Anouk Aimée, (more)
- 1976
The hero of this bleak science-fiction story is a married man who, along with his wife, survives the mysterious destruction of the world. After his wife dies, he makes plans to seek out whatever remnants of civilization exist. However, the arrival of a group of children and their older mentor changes his plans. He teaches them essential skills for survival, to which they add their own sort of ruthlessness. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Niels Arestrup, Michel Esposito, (more)
- 1974
Je Tu Il Elle was the first feature-length effort from avant-garde filmmaker Chantal Akerman. The story, simple in extreme, concerns a high-strung woman taking a lengthy journey through France. Her life up until now has been one huge question mark. By dwelling long and hard on every experience, she hopes to find answers during her cross-country odyssey. Chantal Akerman herself plays a major role in Je Tu Il Elle, which also features Niels Arestrup and Claire Wauthion. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
