Summary
A philosophy professor, Serge Laine, is about to catch a train to Barcelona, where he
plans to have a second honeymoon with his wife and attend a university conference.
His plans are abruptly derailed when he meets and is seduced by an attractive strange
woman, Caroline. Serge is too overwhelmed by his passion for his new lover to stop
and question who she is or what her motives are...
Review
Plein Sud is a captivating romantic black comedy which offers a perceptive depiction
of the capacity of an intense amorous passion to take over an otherwise humdrum life.
Serge Laine’s obsessive desire for his mysterious lover provides the film with its intoxicating
sense of intrigue, as well as affording some sublime moments of black comedy.
Patrick Dewaere is ideally cast as the mild-mannered professor whose world is violently turned upside down – the kind of sympathetic schizophrenic role which this actor excels in. Opposite him is the alluringly seductive Clio Goldsmith, offering an equally impressive performance as the vampish and multi-faceted Caroline.
Having the central characters more or less stranded in Spain because of political upheavals in France (ultimately leading to civil war!) is a nice satirical touch. We are also treated to an enigmatic cameo performance from that perennial favourite, Jeanne Moreau.
© James Travers 2000
Write a review for this film...
Patrick Dewaere is ideally cast as the mild-mannered professor whose world is violently turned upside down – the kind of sympathetic schizophrenic role which this actor excels in. Opposite him is the alluringly seductive Clio Goldsmith, offering an equally impressive performance as the vampish and multi-faceted Caroline.
Having the central characters more or less stranded in Spain because of political upheavals in France (ultimately leading to civil war!) is a nice satirical touch. We are also treated to an enigmatic cameo performance from that perennial favourite, Jeanne Moreau.
© James Travers 2000
Write a review for this film...
User Comments
Useful links
- Best French films of 2011
- Best French films of the 2000s
- Best of the French New Wave
- Best of French film comedy
- The best 100 French films
- The most successful French films
- Great French filmmakers
Related links
- Other French films of the 1980s
- The best French films of the 1980s
- Other French comedy-dramas
- The best French comedy-dramas
- Biography and films of Luc Béraud
To buy this film
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Credits
- Director: Luc Béraud
- Script: Luc Béraud, Jean-Louis Comolli, José María Cunillés, Jean-André Fieschi, Claude Miller
- Photo: Bernard Lutic
- Music: Éric Demarsan
- Cast: Patrick Dewaere (Serge Laine), Clio Goldsmith (Caroline), Jeanne Moreau (Helene), Guy Marchand (Max Moineau), Pierre Dux (Rognon), José Luis López Vázquez (Sr. Martínez), Luis Andrés (Sous Directeur Hutel), Roland Amstutz (Jeannot), Béatrice Camurat (Pepita), Robert Rimbaud (Philippe Muphand), Nicole Jamet (Nicole Laine), Carlos Luchetti (Policier Municipal), Juan Viñallonga (Policier Municipal)
- Country: France
- Language: French
- Runtime: 90 min
- Aka: Heat of Desire
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Comedy / Drama






