Catherine Rouvel Movies

A romantic comedy from acclaimed French director Jacques Rivette (La Belle Noiseuse), this film centers on three men and three women whose lives converge during the run of a play in Paris. The star of the play, Camille (Jeanne Balibar), is returning to Paris after leaving her stuffy boyfriend Pierre (Jacques Bonaffe) and residing in Italy. Her Italian theater company has brought her to France, where the show is run by her lover, director, and co-star Ugo (Sergio Castellitto). Ugo is concerned with the show's poor attendance, but also busy searching for a long-lost play by an Italian playwright. While on his quest, he discovers the beautiful young Do (Helene De Fougerolles), a student who offers to help him. Do's mother has a library that may contain the lost play, and Ugo runs into her possessive half-sibling Arthur (Bruno Todeschini), a shady man pursuing an affair with Pierre's wife Sonia (Mariane Basler), who also has a questionable past. After a brooding dinner at Pierre and Sonia's home, tensions mount in everybody's relationships and their romantic journeys are similarly tested. A lighter work from the usually dramatic filmmaker Rivette, the film was made by the director at the amazing age of 73.
~ Jason Clark, All Movie Guide

The title of Sand and Blood has led some to assume that this 1988 French film is a remake of the old warhorse Blood and Sand. In fact, the only thing the two properties have in common is a bullfighter as a protagonist. A sensitive matador (Patrick Catalifo) grows weary of killing and tries to escape his chosen profession. He meets a young, musically inclined doctor (Sami Frey) who likewise despises bullfighting. The two form a warm and giving friendship, which threatens to rupture when a woman enters the picture. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Commissioner Stan Jalard (Jean-Paul Belmondo) takes in his godson after the boy's father, who is also Stan's police partner, is murdered in this routine action thriller. Stan chases the heavy until he catches up with him. He levies his gun on the killer as he decides whether to shoot him or let him spend life in prison. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

The common problem of a generation gap between young teens and their parents is exacerbated by a cultural gap as well in this interesting first film by Charlotte Silvera. When Louise's family -- her parents and two sisters -- came from Tunisia to live in France, the parents kept their traditional Jewish beliefs intact. Now Louise wants to go to her friend's birthday party on a Saturday, but her parents refuse -- and she is furious. Her anger is most intensely directed at her mother, and her father's indolent, laissez-faire attitude only makes matters worse. To her, their attitudes are outmoded by modern life in France, and like all young teens it is hard for Louise to see the bigger picture. Meanwhile, news bulletins indicate that terrorism is on the rise in France -- indicating some difficult times ahead for Louise's generation. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

The sweet elderly aunt and her two nieces survive the vendetta killing of their whole family because they are out picking flowers at the time. Undaunted, the aunt, a tough old Corsican, tracks down and kills all but one of the men who wiped out her kinfolk. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

In this satire, Jean Yanne punctures the pretensions of French show business, from music halls, to classical concert halls and even pornography. In the movie, he plays an indefatigable producer whose efforts sufficiently offend the big money people and the police so that his life is in danger. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

Set in the City of Light, this crime melodrama chronicles the attempts of a US drug agent to stop a major drug-lord. Though the agent realizes his three predecessors have been assassinated, and that the French government doesn't necessarily approve of the Yank's harassment of a French citizen, he is determined to succeed. Then a Parisian cop quietly suggests that Anthony Quinn himself hire an assassin to kill the drug lord. He thinks about it long and hard, before agreeing to it. Later he is shocked to learn that the assassin is an old war buddy. The hit man then works overtime to cozy up to the criminal and earn his trust. While he is doing that, the agent learns that events have changed and he must capture the drug lord alive. Unfortunately, he must first find a way to call off the professional killer before it is too late. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In France, the position of "magistrate" resembles that of the American district attorney; those in either post have broad investigatory and prosecutory powers. In this French language drama, Magistrate Level (Jacques Brel) is one of the rare few who will prosecute the police for abuse of power. He begins reluctantly, forced to make a pro forma investigation of three policemen who are implicated in the death of a suspect during questioning. After all, he is already late for his long-scheduled vacation. As he gets deeper into the investigation, he becomes more motivated. At the same time, he begins to receive threats from those who want him to stop. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

After singer, composer Jacques Brel gave up public performing, he appeared in a number of films in non-singing roles. This film is one of them. The story unfolds through flashbacks. When Mont-Dragon, a horse farm, needs a new manager, Georges (Jacques Brel), a dishonorably discharged army man, takes the post. Georges is out for revenge. The caretaker, who really runs the farm, was a military aide to the Colonel who caused Georges to lose his career and his reputation. Needless to say, the caretaker is not happy to see Georges become the new manager. The owner (Francoise Prevost) is the Colonel's widow, who was at one time Georges' lover. She now finds solace in the arms of her maid (Catherine Rouvel), whom Georges promptly takes to his own bed. As the story continues, he finds numerous ways to make everyone's lives miserable. These tensions carry the movie to its tragic conclusion. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

Based on a novel by Charlotte Armstrong, the story concerns Helene (Stephane Audran), the wife of a hopeless would-be writer and drug addict. Her husband's best friend tries to lay a trap for Helene, so that she will be forced to pay dearly for a divorce settlement. Also conspiring against Helene is her father-in-law, who wishes to wrest her child away from her. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

To help fight the communists, comic-strip superhero Mister Freedom (John Abbey) is sent to France by an American group called Freedom Incorporated. Receiving his orders from Doctor Freedom (Donald Pleasence), he battles the Russian Moujik Man and a fire-breathing dragon named Red China Man in this political satire critical of U.S. policies. When one of the heroes nears death, another is sent to take his place to uphold the sometimes ridiculous policies. Those who don't heed the warning of the so-called hero are destined to die in an atomic bomb explosion. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

Between his successful film appearances with Vittorio Gassman in Dino Risi's Il Sorpasso (1962) and Il Successo (1965), Jean-Louis Trintignant appeared in this little-known romance. He plays Georges, a young worker who, while waiting for a train, meets an attractive woman (Michele Morgan) in the station. Though she is married, the two quickly become involved in a love affair. Before it goes on for long, however, she fears it is getting out of hand and may call off their relationship to save her marriage. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide

This black comedy is based on the dastardly deeds of French serial killer Henri-Desire Landru, who wined, dined, scammed, and dismembered over 10 women during WW I. He obtained his victims by placing ads in the Personals section of the paper. He then chose wealthy dowagers in their fifties. First he would woo them to his villa. Then he would con them into forking over their fortunes. Finally he would kill them, chop them up, and immolate the pieces. He is finally captured after he is recognized by the sister of one of the victims. Landru swears that he is not a psychotic killer, that he only did it so he could continue to support his family in the bourgeoisie style that they were accustomed to. During his trial, Landru refused to plead for himself one way or the other; he showed no remorse at all. He was guillotined on February 25, 1922. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide