| Directer: | Alain Resnais |
| Starring: | Fanny Ardant, Sabene Azema |
| Countries: | France |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Year: | 1986 |
| Type: | Color |
| Language: | French with English Subtitles |
| Length: | 112 mins. |
| Aspect Ratio: | 1.66:1 |
Synopsis
Alain Resnais, the legendary, daring, and acclaimed director of Night and Fog, Hiroshima, Mon Amour and Last Year at Marienbad, adds an offbeat entry into his stunning oeuvre with Mélo, a loose adaptation of Henri Bernstein’s celebrated 1929 play. Resnais’s first solo credit for screenplay in almost 40 years, Mélo tells the story of Marcel (Andre Dussollier) and Pierre (Pierre Arditi), two lifelong friends who are also concert violinists. While Marcel has gone on to stardom, Pierre has settled into a contented family life with his beautiful wife Romaine (Sabine Azema - A Sunday in the Country). But all is not perfect; Pierre is unaware that Romaine is having an affair with Marcel.
For Mélo, Azema won the Cesar (France’s Academy Award) as Best Actress, playing a woman so consumed by guilt, she eventually takes deadly measures to end her infidelity. Also featured in the film is renowned French actress Fanny Ardant (8 Women, Elizabeth, The Woman Next Door).
starring SABINE AZEMA, FANNY ARDANT, PIERRE ARDITI,
ANDRE DUSSOLLIER, JACQUES DACQMINE, HUBERT GIGNOUX and CATHERINE ARDITI
directed by ALAIN RESNAIS screenplay by ALAIN RESNAIS
based on a play by HENRI BERNSTEIN
produced by MARIN KARMITZ for MK2 PRODUCTIONS and A2
cinematography by CHARLES VAN DAMME
music by PHILIPPE GERARD, including works by
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH and JOHANNES BRAHMS
1986 France 112 min. Color
Original aspect ratio (1.66:1) Enhanced for 16x9 TVs
In French with optional English subtitles
Critical Acclaim
“Mélo’s tragic romance keeps you in a spell!”
- Desson Howe, Washington Post
“An incomparable masterpiece!”
- Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Awards
WINNER - César, Best Actress
Extras on DVD
Original Theatrical Trailer
Interview with Producer Marin Karmitz on the making of the film, and on working with director Alain Resnais
