Adultery: A User's Guide
| Adultery: A User's Guide | |
|---|---|
 DVD cover | |
| Directed by | Christine Pascal |
| Written by | Christine Pascal Robert Boner |
| Produced by | Robert Boner |
| Starring | Richard Berry Karin Viard Vincent Cassel |
| Cinematography | Renato Berta |
| Edited by | Jacques Comets |
| Music by | Bruno Coulais |
Production companies | Ciné Manufacture SA France 2 RTS Radio Télévision Suisse |
Release date |
|
Running time | 95 minutes |
| Countries | France Switzerland |
| Language | French |
Adultery: A User's Guide (French: Adultère, mode d'emploi) is a 1995 Swiss romantic comedy-drama film directed by Christine Pascal and written by Pascal and Robert Boner. It follows a couple whose relationship comes under strain. The film was selected as the Swiss entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 68th Academy Awards. It was screened at festivals including Locarno, Toronto, Montreal, and Namur.[1][2]
Synopsis
[edit]Over the course of one day, the married Parisian architects Fabienne and Bruno anxiously await the result of an important competition they have entered. Unable to handle the strain, both seek relief elsewhere: Bruno acts on a sexual fantasy, while Fabienne gives in to the advances of Simon, Bruno’s friend. Their situation becomes more complicated when they learn the truth about each other’s actions.[3]
Cast
[edit]The cast includes:[4]
- Richard Berry as Simon
- Karin Viard as Fabienne
- Vincent Cassel as Bruno
- Emmanuelle Halimi as Sarah
- Liliane Rovère as Simon's mistress
Production
[edit]Adultery: A User’s Guide was Christine Pascal’s last film.[5]
Reception
[edit]Awards and nominations
[edit]The film was selected as the Swiss entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 68th Academy Awards, but was not nominated.[2][6]
Critical response
[edit]Filmdienst wrote that the film skilfully interweaves its web of relationships, with characters who repeatedly behave in ways that frustrate audience expectations.[4]
Festival screenings
[edit]The film was screened at festivals including the 48th Locarno International Film Festival, the 1995 Toronto International Film Festival, the 1995 Montreal World Film Festival, and the Festival international du film francophone de Namur in 1995. In later years, it was shown at the 17th Filmfestival Max Ophüls Preis in 1996 and the Moscow International Film Festival in 1999.[1]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 "Adultère (mode d'emploi)". Swiss Films. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
- 1 2 "41 to Compete for Foreign Language Oscar Nominations". FilmFestivals.com. Archived from the original on 7 April 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
- ↑ Sandra Brennan (2016). "Adultery: A User's Guide". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Baseline & All Movie Guide. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
- 1 2 "Seitensprung für Anfänger". Filmdienst (in German). Retrieved 10 April 2026.
- ↑ "Christine Pascal". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
- ↑ "The 68th Academy Awards (1996) Nominees and Winners". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 25 March 1996. Retrieved 10 April 2026.