Nuit d'ivresse (1986)

Nuit d'ivresse Poster

Jacques Belin, presenter of a silly TV show, gets drunk after receiving an award and misses the train bringing his TV-soap-star fiancée. He meets up with Frède, just out of prison after a three year sentence and, in between numerous arguments and Jacques' break-up with his girlfriend, the two of them get drunker together, going across Paris in search of more alcohol and adventure.

Overview of "Nuit d'ivresse"
"Nuit d'ivresse" is a French comedy movie launched in 1986, directed by Bernard Nauer. The film is based upon a play of the exact same name and catches the essence of France's vibrant 1980s culture. It stars Thierry Lhermitte as Jacques Belin, a popular television game show host, and Josiane Balasko as Frède, an outspoken and spirited bar routine. The narrative unfolds mainly in a Parisian bar where the 2 leads, at first strangers with diverse way of lives, come together through a series of amusing and unanticipated occasions that spark an uncommon connection.

Plot Synopsis
The movie opens with Jacques Belin hosting his game program, "Quitte ou Double". In spite of his public personality of a smooth, regulated professional, offstage, his life is less attractive. After commemorating his birthday alone at a restaurant, he decides to visit a bar to continue his night of drinking, where he experiences the bold and unapologetic Frède.

Frède is a woman who doesn't comply with society's expectations-- loud, frank, and unafraid to express her viewpoints. She holds court at the bar with her partner, an accommodating but confused bartender named Michel, played by Gérard Jugnot.

As the night progresses, Jacques and Frède get increasingly intoxicated, and their preliminary animosity paves the way to a series of deep discussions, raucous laughter, and ridiculous circumstances. The closed environment of the bar adds an intense atmosphere to their budding relationship, cultivating an intimate setting for the madness that ensues.

Jacques' life in the spotlight contrasts greatly with Frède's carefree attitude towards life, yet their shared human vulnerabilities and a desire for genuine friendship are exposed as they spend more time together. The night of drunkenness progresses into a not likely companionship filled with humor, compassion, and self-discovery.

Themes and Reception
"Nuit d'ivresse" deals with styles of solitude, the requirement for human connection, and the masks that people use in public versus who they remain in private. The movie touches upon the concepts of façades and the real personality behind them, as exhibited by Jacques' shift from a smooth tv host to a lonely guy looking for genuine interaction.

The humor in "Nuit d'ivresse" is typically French, identified by amusing dialogue, slapstick, and situational comedy. While the humor verge on farce, the underlying human component of the script keeps the characters relatable and endears them to the audience.

The film got a typically favorable reception for its humor, the performances of the lead stars, and for its capability to translate the dynamic of the original stage play to the cinema. Lhermitte's representation of Jacques was praised for its depth and humor, while Balasko's Frède became a renowned character in French movie theater, embodying an unfiltered and raw representation of womanhood hardly ever seen on the screen at the time.

Conclusion
In conclusion, "Nuit d'ivresse" is a comedic representation of 2 people from different strolls of life who discover common ground through a night of inebriated experiences. The movie catches the short lived nature of human connection in the modern world and does so with warmth and humor. It remains a valued piece in French cinematic history, reflective of the period's culture and social standards.

Top Cast

  • Thierry Lhermitte (small)
    Thierry Lhermitte
    Jacques Belin
  • Josiane Balasko (small)
    Josiane Balasko
    Frède
  • Gérard Jugnot (small)
    Gérard Jugnot
    Jugnot, l'invité en colère
  • Victoria Abril (small)
    Victoria Abril
    La compagne de Jugnot
  • Jean-Michel Dupuis (small)
    Jean-Michel Dupuis
    Steve
  • Guy Laporte (small)
    Guy Laporte
    Le garçon de café
  • Théo Légitimus
    L'amateur de foot
  • Didier Pain (small)
    Didier Pain
    Le contrôleur S.N.C.F
  • Ticky Holgado (small)
    Ticky Holgado
    L'électro
  • Jerome Walke
    Le présentateur TV
  • Mahmoud Zemmouri (small)
    Mahmoud Zemmouri
    Le patron arabe