Love unto Death (original title: L'Amour à mort) is a 1984 French drama film directed by Alain Resnais.

Love Unto Death
DVD cover
Directed byAlain Resnais
Written byJean Gruault
Produced byPhilippe Dussart
StarringSabine Azéma
Fanny Ardant
Pierre Arditi
André Dussollier
CinematographySacha Vierny
Edited byJean-Pierre Besnard
Albert Jurgenson
Music byHans Werner Henze
Distributed byActeurs Auteurs Associés
Release date
  • 5 September 1984 (1984-09-05)
Running time
92 minutes
CountryFrance
LanguageFrench

Plot

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Elisabeth, a scientist, lives with Simon, an archaeologist. One night, Simon suffers a seizure and is declared dead by a doctor. After a grieving Elisabeth screams for him not to be dead, Simon unexpectedly comes back to life. Elisabeth and Simon discuss the experience with their friends, protestant pastors Judith and Jérôme. Simon seems at first to have resumed a normal life, but being "dead" for a short moment has left him tormented and bitter. He reveals to Elisabeth that he saw many people in the afterlife and expresses a desire to go back there, as he now feels out of place in the world. Elisabeth, who doubts that Simon actually died and does not believe in the afterlife, pleads for him to remain with her. Simon eventually has another seizure and dies for good. Elisabeth comes to believe that it is now her destiny to join him wherever he is. She discusses the philosophical implications with Jérôme and Judith. Jérôme tries to talk her out of it, and even raises the possibility that the afterlife may not exist ; Judith supports Elisabeth's decision, which she compares to Jesus marching to Jerusalem. As Elisabeth leaves, Judith consoles Jérôme.

Production

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The film was shot in Uzès, Gard, in the south of France.

Cast

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