Directed by:
Alain ResnaisScreenplay:
Jean GruaultCinematography:
Sacha ViernyComposer:
Arié DzierlatkaCast:
Gérard Depardieu, Nicole Garcia, Pierre Arditi, Marie Dubois, Geneviève Mnich, Catherine Frot, Brigitte Roüan, Héléna Manson, Jean Dasté, Alexandre Rignault (more)Plots(1)
Alain Resnais's MON ONCLE D'AMERIQUE may be the best all-around display of the director's unique narrative and photographic techniques. The film begins with still photographs appearing on the screen as a narrator gives a quick biography of each of the three characters in the movie: Jean, Janine, and Rene. They are presented first in their childhood: a picture of Jean collecting clams, a picture of Janine reciting poetry to her family, and a picture of René in his farm overalls. Then each character introduces him- or herself in young adulthood, and the film rolls as they take turns narrating their own biographies. From there, with frequent interruptions by Professor Henri Laborit, the psychiatrist who takes over as an external narrator, the film assumes the traditional third-person approach to its three subjects, following them as they marry and separate, have affairs, suffer, rejoice, have children, find success, fail miserably, and eventually meet each other. All the while, the psychiatrist-narrator adds fabulously absurd but simultaneously poignant existential explanations for why these characters do what they do. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Awards
- Winner
- Nominations
Academy Awards
- 1981 - Jean Gruault (Best Original Screenplay)
César Awards
- 1981 - Best Film
- 1981 - Alain Resnais (Best Director)
- 1981 - Nicole Garcia (Best Actress)
- 1981 - Jean Gruault (Best Screenplay, Original or Adaptation)
- 1981 - Sacha Vierny (Best Cinematography)
- 1981 - Best Production Design
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
- 1980 - Best Foreign Language Film
- 1980 - Best Film
- 1980 - Jean Gruault (Best Screenplay)
Cannes Film Festival
- 1980 - Alain Resnais (Grand Prix Spécial du Jury (1967-1988))
- 1980 - Alain Resnais (Fipresci Prize - Official Competition)
- 1980 - Alain Resnais (Golden Palm - Official Competition)
San Sebastián International Film Festival
- 1980 - Alain Resnais (Official Selection)