The Things of Life

PG

1970

1h 30m

Drama

List

Reviews

92%

Audience Score

1,000+ Ratings

Pierre Berard (Michel Piccoli) is having a passionate affair with much younger Helene (Romy Schneider), yet he still cares deeply for his spouse, Catherine (Léa Massari). As Pierre spends more time with his new lover, she attempts to persuade him to sever his family ties, after which he sees less and less of Catherine and his young son. Eventually, Helene puts her foot down and forces Pierre to choose between her and his wife, but, just as he is about to decide, fate tragically intervenes.

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J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

One thing you can say for Sautet: he knew how to shoot a speeding automobile.

Rated: 3/4

Jul 20, 2017

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David Bax

Battleship Pretension

...there's plenty to enjoy, not least of which the multiple tense car scenes ... and the impressive stunt driving.

May 31, 2020

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Robin Clifford

Reeling Reviews

If there is one thing that I will remember about "Les Choses..." is the incredible staging of the film's opening, the crash

Rated: B

May 23, 2020

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Laura Clifford

Reeling Reviews

Under Sautet's direction, "The Things of Life (Les Choses de la Vie)" renders everyday events extraordinarily moving.

Rated: B+

May 22, 2020

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Audience Member

Interesting choices for reviewing events leading up to accident and then rather extensive coverage of the prefaced accident in order to add uncertainty to the end. Touching performances by all despite thin characterization

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

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pasha a

I like the Hollywood version more.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

One of the movies that made me want to make my own movies. Brilliant. Without a doubt one of 100 best french flick of all time.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

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Audience Member

It seems that the plot had been made dull on purpose. Up to a certain point in the movie what I saw was just another standard story of broken hearts.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

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Audience Member

Premier drame intimiste de Claude Sautet avec Michel Piccoli et la charismatique Romy Schneider. Les derniers moments de la vie d'un homme avant son accident de voiture, point pivot du film. TrÃ¨s reprÃ©sentatif d'une certaine idÃ©e du cinÃ©ma Ã la franÃ§aise. A voir.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/23/23

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Audience Member

Some powerful images, but the film as a whole is fairly pedestrian.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

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Claude Sautet

Director

Michel Piccoli

Pierre Bérard

Romy Schneider

Hélène

Lea Massari

Catherine Bérard

Gérard Lartigau

Bertrand Bérard

Jean Bouise

François

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Synopsis

Pierre Berard (Michel Piccoli) is having a passionate affair with much younger Helene (Romy Schneider), yet he still cares deeply for his spouse, Catherine (Léa Massari). As Pierre spends more time with his new lover, she attempts to persuade him to sever his family ties, after which he sees less and less of Catherine and his young son. Eventually, Helene puts her foot down and forces Pierre to choose between her and his wife, but, just as he is about to decide, fate tragically intervenes.

Director: Claude Sautet
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Original Language: French (Canada)
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 16, 2020
Runtime: 1h 30m

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