Loulou (1980)

Loulou is a French romantic film drama first released in 1980, directed by Maurice Pialat.  The film stars Isabelle Huppert, Gérard Depardieu, Guy Marchand, Humbert Balsan and Bernard Tronczak.  Our overall rating for this film is: good.


Nelly leaves her affluent partner, André, to have a passionate love affair with Loulou, an unemployed layabout.  Although André has the money, Loulou has time – and seemingly inexhaustible sexual magnetism.

This film is a satire of modern living and explores the relative merits of prosperity and the freedom that unemployment can bring.  Pialat argues that having a good job and a nice home is no substitute for a fulfilling love life.

The film’s focus is a stormy love triangle involving a very young Isabelle Huppert, Gérard Depardieu and Guy Marchard.  Despite some respectable performances from all three actors, the film drags, seemingly drifting without any purpose.

As in many of Pialat’s films, the narrative is far less important than the naturalistic depiction of belieavable characters.  The fundamental problem with Loulou is that whilst it feels truthful it is just too much of a chore to sit through.

© James Travers 1999

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