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The Things of Life

Play trailer Poster for The Things of Life PG 1970 1h 30m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 4 Reviews 92% Popcornmeter 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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The Things of Life

Critics Reviews

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J. R. Jones Chicago Reader 07/20/2017
3/4
One thing you can say for Sautet: he knew how to shoot a speeding automobile. Go to Full Review David Bax Battleship Pretension 05/31/2020
...there's plenty to enjoy, not least of which the multiple tense car scenes ... and the impressive stunt driving. Go to Full Review Robin Clifford Reeling Reviews 05/23/2020
B
If there is one thing that I will remember about "Les Choses..." is the incredible staging of the film's opening, the crash Go to Full Review Laura Clifford Reeling Reviews 05/22/2020
B+
Under Sautet's direction, "The Things of Life (Les Choses de la Vie)" renders everyday events extraordinarily moving. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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02/19/2021 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 See more pasha a 07/28/2012 I like the Hollywood version more. See more 04/28/2012 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. See more 07/07/2011 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. See more 10/02/2010 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. Très représentatif d'une certaine idée du cinéma à la française. A voir. See more 09/04/2010 Some powerful images, but the film as a whole is fairly pedestrian. See more Read all reviews
The Things of Life

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Cast & Crew

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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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The Things of Life

The Things of Life (1970) View more photos

Movie Info

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
Canadian French
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 16, 2020
Runtime
1h 30m
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