Le Beau Serge

+ intro by academic Catherine Dousteyssier-Khoze

Often cited as the first French New Wave film, Chabrol’s debut finds violence and despair lurking in the daily rhythms of provincial life.

  • Director

    Claude Chabrol

  • With

    Gérard Blain, Jean-Claude Brialy, Michèle Méritz, Bernadette Lafont

  • France 1958. 97min

  • 35mm

  • Certificate

    12A

  • English subtitles

Often cited as the first French New Wave film, Le Beau Serge announced Chabrol’s preoccupation with the darker side of human nature. François, a Parisian student, returns to his home in the countryside while recuperating from an illness only to find his childhood friend mired in alcoholism. Shot on location in his mother’s hometown, Chabrol’s film uncovers violence and despair in the ordinary everydayness of provincial life.

Contains themes of domestic violence or abuse and drug use.

See other screenings of Le Beau Serge.

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