Retrospective 2016

Le Journal d’une femme de chambre

Tagebuch einer Kammerzofe
Luis Buñuel
I, FRA 1964
87 min
V'16

The film follows Célestine after she moves from Paris to a rural Normandy estate where she works for a family of hypocrites and perverts. This seedier side of the French upper crust includes protagonists like an avid animal hunter and woman chaser, a haughty mistress and a foot-fetishist. Célestine herself attempts to use her feminine wiles to secure a place above her station while overlooking the possible repercussions of indulging an idle upper class. Transplanting the story from late 1800s to 1930, Buñuel was able to comment on French fascism and extremist politics, blaming the moral decay of the bourgeoisie for the subsequent political demise. The film ends with a political demonstration and protesters shouting “Down with the Republic! Death to the Jews! Long live Chiappe!” This name is Buñuel’s revenge against the rightwing civil servant Jean Chiappe, who suppressed L’ÂGE D’OR in 30’s. A must-see. (Rodrigo Perez, Oli Lyttelton, Diana Drumm)

Credits
  • Jeanne Moreau - Céléstine
  • Michel Piccoli - Monteil
  • Georges Géret - Joseph
  • Françoise Lugagne - Mme Monteil
  • Luis Buñuel
  • Jean-Claude Carrière
  • Roger Fellous
  • Antoine Petitjean
  • Louisette Hautecoeur
  • Georges Wakhévitch
Ciné-Alliance, Filmsonor, Spéva Films, Dear Film Produzione
35 mm
bw
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