1956 French film
Gervaise [ʒɛʁ.vɛz] historical drama film directed by René Clément based on the 1877 novel L'Assommoir Émile Zola . It depicts a working-class woman in the mid-nineteenth century (played by Maria Schell ) trying to cope with the descent of her husband (played by François Périer ) into alcoholism .
The film was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 29th Academy Awards .[ 1] Volpi Cup for Best Actress at the 1956 Venice Film Festival for her performance; Périer won the 1957 BAFTA Best Actor for his performance; and the film itself won the 1957 BAFTA Best Film award.
Plot
Paris , from 1852 onward. The story follows the struggles of Gervaise, a forsaken washerwoman left alone with her young sons Étienne and Claude by her lover Lantier. She marries Coupeau, a skilled roofer whose life takes a downward spiral due to an accident, leading to idleness, alcoholism, and illness. Together, they have a daughter named Nana. Despite Gervaise's courage and the support of her friend, the blacksmith Goujet, she finds herself unable to prevent Coupeau's decline, as he destroys the laundry business that was her livelihood. Virginie, driven by old grudges and the social challenges of the time, adds to Gervaise's troubles, pushing her further into alcoholism. Meanwhile, their daughter Nana is left to fend for herself on the unforgiving streets of Paris.
Cast
Maria Schell : Gervaise Macquart Coupeau, a patient and courageous laundrywoman François Périer : Coupeau, Gervaise's husband, a rooferSuzy Delair : Virginie Poisson, an old rival who hates GervaiseArmand Mestral : Lantier, Gervaise's former loverJany Holt : Mme Lorilleux, Coupeau's ill-tempered sisterMathilde Casadesus : Mme Boche, the conciergeFlorelle : Maman Coupeau, Coupeau's aged motherMicheline Luccioni : Clémence, a laundrywoman who works with GervaiseLucien Hubert : Monsieur Poisson, a policeman and Virginie's husbandJacques Harden : Goujet, a smith, a friend of Coupeau and Gervaise'sJacques Hilling : Monsieur Boche, the concierge's husbandHélène Tossy : Mme BijardAmédée : Mes Bottes, Coupeau's drinking buddyHubert de Lapparent (as Hubert Lapparent): Monsieur Lorilleux, a chainmaker, Mme Lorilleux' long-suffering husbandRachel Devirys : Mme FauconnierJacqueline Morane : Mme GaudronYvonne Claudie : Mme PutoisGeorges Paulais : Father BruGérard Darrieu : Charles, laundry workerPierre Duverger : Monsieur GaudronMarcelle Féry : Laundry ownerDenise Péronne : a laundrywomanSimone Duhart : a fishmongerAndré Wasley : Father ColombeAriane Lancell : AdèleAram Stéphan : the mayorGeorges Peignot : Monsieur MadinierMax Elbèze : ZidoreJean Relet : Sergent de ville (policeman)Roger Dalphin : workerArmand Lurville : presiding officer at hearingJean Gautrat : Bec SaléChristian Denhez : Étienne, Gervaise and Lantier's younger son, at the age of 8Christian Férez : Étienne at the age of 13Patrice Catineaud : Claude, Gervaise and Lantier's elder son, at the age of 6Chantal Gozzi : Nana, Gervaise and Coupeau's daughter, at the age of 5Michèle Caillaud : LalieGilbert Sanjakian : the Boches' son at the age of 6Yvette Cuvelier : Augustine, apprentice at the laundry, at the age of 13Paul Préboist : member of the audience at the cabaretJacques Bertrand: factory foreman
Reception
Gervaise has an approval rating of 80% on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , based on 5 reviews, and an average rating of 7.5/10.[ 2]
See also
References
External links
Awards for Gervaise
Best Film Best Film
1937–1977 1978–2000 2001–present
1948–1960 1961–1980 1981–2000 2001–2020 2021–present
