France, 1893. Joseph Bouvier attempts to shoot his love who refused to marry him and to commit suicide. Upon release from the filthy asylum where he was placed, with bullets still remaining in his head, he wanders the country roads and rapes and murders many teenagers over years. The judge Rousseau captures him, but to serve his ambition seeks to avoid that Bouvier is simply declared insane.
Acting
Michel Galabru's terrifying physicality as damaged, feral Bouvier.
Direction
Tavernier's grubby period authenticity—no romantic Belle Époque here.
Production
Genuine locations including actual former psychiatric asylums.
Director
Bertrand Tavernier
Philippe Noiret
Juge Rousseau
Michel Galabru
Joseph Bouvier
Isabelle Huppert
Rose
Jean-Claude Brialy
Avocat Villedieu
Renée Faure
Mme Rousseau
Cécile Vassort
Louise Leseuer
Jean-Roger Caussimon
Chanteur de rue
Jean Bretonnière
Le député
François Dyrek
Le cheminot libéré
Monique Chaumette
La mère de Louise
Yves Robert
Professeur Degueldre
Jean Amos
Le gardien-chef
Arlette Bonnard
La fermière à la soupe
Liza Braconnier
La religieuse de l'hôpital
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
FR
