The Things of Life

Play trailer

The Things of Life

PG

1970

1h 30m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

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.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

Read all reviews

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

Full Review

pasha a

I like the Hollywood version more.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

Audience Member

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

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Claude Sautet

Director

Michel Piccoli

Pierre Bérard

Romy Schneider

Hélène

Lea Massari

Catherine Bérard

Gérard Lartigau

Bertrand Bérard

Jean Bouise

François

View more photos

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

Most Popular at Home Now