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IMDbPro

Picnic on the Grass

Original title: Le déjeuner sur l'herbe
  • 19591959
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
1.2K
YOUR RATING
Picnic on the Grass (1959)
  • Comedy
  • Romance
Etienne Alexis, a candidate for president of the new Europe, is a scientist promoting artificial insemination for social betterment and therapy to eliminate passion. His wealthy household (h... Read allEtienne Alexis, a candidate for president of the new Europe, is a scientist promoting artificial insemination for social betterment and therapy to eliminate passion. His wealthy household (his family owns chemical corporations that will profit from his ideas) is stiff, intellectu... Read allEtienne Alexis, a candidate for president of the new Europe, is a scientist promoting artificial insemination for social betterment and therapy to eliminate passion. His wealthy household (his family owns chemical corporations that will profit from his ideas) is stiff, intellectual, and sterile. To celebrate his engagement to a German cousin, he hosts an aseptic picni... Read all
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
1.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Jean Renoir
  • Writer
    • Jean Renoir(scenario)
  • Stars
    • Paul Meurisse
    • Charles Blavette
    • André Brunot
Top credits
  • Director
    • Jean Renoir
  • Writer
    • Jean Renoir(scenario)
  • Stars
    • Paul Meurisse
    • Charles Blavette
    • André Brunot
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 5User reviews
    • 11Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos12

    Paul Meurisse and Catherine Rouvel in Picnic on the Grass (1959)
    Picnic on the Grass (1959)
    Picnic on the Grass (1959)
    Picnic on the Grass (1959)
    Paul Meurisse and Catherine Rouvel in Picnic on the Grass (1959)
    Picnic on the Grass (1959)
    Picnic on the Grass (1959)
    Picnic on the Grass (1959)
    Régine Blaess, Paulette Dubost, Paul Meurisse, Ingrid Nordine, and Catherine Rouvel in Picnic on the Grass (1959)
    Paul Meurisse and Ingrid Nordine in Picnic on the Grass (1959)
    Picnic on the Grass (1959)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Paul Meurisse
    Paul Meurisse
    • Etienne Alexisas Etienne Alexis
    Charles Blavette
    Charles Blavette
    • Gaspardas Gaspard
    • (as Blavette)
    André Brunot
    André Brunot
    • Le Curéas Le Curé
    Régine Blaess
    • Claireas Claire
    • (as Régine Blaes)
    Marguerite Cassan
    • Mme Poignantas Mme Poignant
    Robert Chandeau
    • Laurentas Laurent
    Jacques Dannoville
    • Mr. Poignantas Mr. Poignant
    • (as Jacques Danoville)
    Hélène Duc
    • Isabelleas Isabelle
    Paulette Dubost
    Paulette Dubost
    • Forestieras Forestier
    Ghislaine Dumont
    • Magdaas Magda
    Jacqueline Fontel
    • Micheletas Michelet
    Micheline Gary
    • Madeleineas Madeleine
    Jean-Pierre Granval
    • Ritouas Ritou
    Michel Herbault
    • Moutetas Moutet
    Raymond Jourdan
    • Eustacheas Eustache
    Pierre Leproux
    • Baillyas Bailly
    François Miège
    • Barthélemyas Barthélemy
    Jacqueline Morane
    • Titineas Titine
    • Director
      • Jean Renoir
    • Writer
      • Jean Renoir(scenario)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      According to film critic Jonas Mekas, Jean Renoir made this film with the money he got from the American release of La grande illusion.
    • Connections
      Featured in Le Bonheur (1965)

    User reviews5

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Philosophy in the Clouds
    An unusual intro sequence involves layering the diegetic world through an odd specularity utilizing newsreel interviews and binding characters to different milieux. There are a plethora of tongue-in-cheek juxtapositions of science and nature which reminds one of Makavejev's oeuvre (especially in the link being sexuality). Rare Renoirian soft focus accompanies one-shot closeups while the self-reflexivity leads to a near mocking of the famous Renoir stylistic system. Depth of field is arranged where characters continuously 'pop up' in the different planes. Groups are framed in long shots. Dejeuner sur L'Herbe is almost bizarre in its referencing to the French New Wave and the Tradition of Quality. FNW is treated as a horizon running perpendicular to the tight-rope Renoir traverses toward it while the ToQ is set up as a gorge below which has a perverted inversion in its reflection as it to position itself in the clouds like Gods. Renoir seems to make a journey of this film - a personal journey toward his favored colleagues but with the knowledge that his alignment is bound to his past. "Every film is a confession" is a Vuillermoz quote well addressed in this film. The pan flautist is a famous Renoir motif and appropriately placed in Dejeuner where Renoir as auteur becomes a force of nature - he becomes the milieu (and perhaps always was). The picnickers seem indifferent to the Pan character's supernatural powers revealing a cynicism that has popped up many times with Renoir. "In every man a satyr sleeps" is no revelation, but a warning about the internal and external truths which become convoluted and disparate through the individual's attempts to manage them. It has been noted that Dejeuner lacks in subtlety. I believe that it was the intention as the film text is simply overdetermined in its self-reflexivity that the specular nature of the film cannot be ignored. The Damascus reference troubles me, while the Hitler-orator allusions and scooter ride seem all too obvious as components of an autobiography. This film is important for understanding Renoir as an auteur.
    helpful•6
    10
    • LobotomousMonk
    • Mar 11, 2013

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 11, 1959 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • France
    • Language
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Das Frühstück im Grünen
    • Filming locations
      • Auvergne, France
    • Production company
      • Compagnie Jean Renoir
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 31 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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