Nelly & Monsieur Arnaud

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Movie
German title Nelly & Monsieur Arnaud
Original title Nelly & Monsieur Arnaud
Country of production France , Italy , Germany
original language French
Publishing year 1995
length 103 minutes
Age rating FSK 0
Rod
Director Claude Sautet
script Claude Sautet
Jacques Fieschi
Yves Ulmann
production Alain Sarde
music Philippe Sarde
camera Jean-François Robin
cut Jacqueline Thiédot
occupation

Nelly & Monsieur Arnaud is a fictional film by director Claude Sautet from 1995 based on an original script by himself, Jacques Fieschi and Yves Ulmann. The drama was produced u. a. by Alain Sarde, the Italian Cecchi Gori Group Tiger Cinematografica , the German Prokino Filmproduktion and the French TV channel TF1 .

action

Young Nelly is in trouble. Her marriage to the lethargic and bored Jerome is over; both are unemployed and deeply in debt. While Nelly accepts every available job (at the beginning of the film she works as a temporary worker in a bakery), Jerome hardly leaves the house and spends his days in front of the television.

One day while visiting a café with her best friend Jacqueline, she meets Pierre Arnaud, a retired businessman and former judge who used to be her friend's lover. When Nelly found out about Nelly's difficulties, he offered to borrow her money. Nelly initially declines (Arnaud: "I hope you do not misunderstand my offer. It was not meant to be ambiguous." Nelly: "I hope so!"), But in view of her situation she finally accepts it. That same evening she separates from her husband.

When the check is handed over, Arnaud, who is writing his memoir, asks Nelly if she would like to work for him as a secretary. The predecessor, a smart gray-haired lady, would have been bored to death. Nelly assumes that after all she owes him something. But Arnaud doesn't want to know anything about it. Not only does he not want the borrowed money back, but he also wants to pay Nelly for her work like her predecessor. And if the task bores her, she can quit at any time.

Through Arnaud, she also met his publisher Granec, a young, dynamic womanizer who was immediately interested in her.

While the initially purely business relationship gradually becomes more and more private, she begins to work for Monsieur Arnaud, which turns out to be more difficult than expected. Because Arnaud demands more than just a typist, he wants her opinion and critical comment. She is also confronted with his vanity and narcissism - he also jealously watches her relationship with his publisher.

Then she meets her ex-boyfriend Christophe, who was commissioned to sell Arnaud's private library, and his jealous friend Marianne.

The situation between Arnaud and Nelly escalates. Since she penetrates deeper and deeper into his history and personality by copying and editing his autobiography, he also wants to learn more about her in return. Increasingly reckless and demanding, he demands intimate details about their failed marriage and their current love affair. But Nelly closes herself: “You have no right to interfere in my life. I don't have to tell you anything about myself. ”Arnaud:“ Exactly you have to! ”Your relationship cools down noticeably, but both suffer from it because they have gotten used to each other. Nelly: "You have now become a part of my life."

He confesses to Jacqueline his feelings for Nelly and his jealousy. Jacqueline: "At least something happens to you." And further: "I never inspired you to feel like this." Arnaud: "You wouldn't have liked that either."

Nelly and Monsieur Arnaud meet again under tragicomic circumstances.

Jacqueline throws a party, but finds out the same day that her significant other has cheated on her with his ex-wife, who also got pregnant.

Granec, who has meanwhile helped Nelly get a job in a graphics agency, and Arnaud start a conversation. In contrast to his previous lifestyle, Granec can imagine a long-term relationship with Nelly. Arnaud, who has now distanced himself, encourages him to do so. Since their relationship has gradually returned to normal, Nelly continues her work at Arnaud. It is now easier for them to talk to each other, which is why Arnaud now reveals the last dark chapters of his life to her: his failed marriage with Lucie, who lived with her recently deceased partner in Switzerland, his distant relationship with his children, whom he barely mentions was a good father, as well as the story of his former best friend and business partner Dolabella, who betrayed him and whose life he systematically destroyed in revenge.

Nelly and Jerome, who has now built a new life as a computer scientist with a new partner at his side, are now finally getting divorced.

But when Granec wants to move in with her, she transfers him. She is not exactly sure of her reasons, but he has a clue. Nelly: “I like it the way it is. Those stolen moments. ”Granec:“ Stolen? Who? ”They split up. His injured pride prevents him from becoming friends with her. In her confusion, Nelly seeks refuge with Arnaud and sleeps with him.

A few days later, Arnaud calls Nelly over on an urgent matter. As she enters the apartment, she meets Lucie, Arnaud and a number of packed suitcases. The ex-couple want to go on a world tour. Lucie: “We had this plan thirty years ago. We're doing it because we can still do it. "Arnaud:" I'm breaking out. I'm going to put an end to my sedentary lifestyle. ”- And they leave a completely confused Nelly behind.

Quotes from reviews

"It is a matter of great erotic fascination when two people are fascinated by the thought of becoming a couple, but held back by the fear of rejection and the fear of pity."

- Roger Ebert : Chicago Sun-Times

"With an excellent sense of the nuances of polite oppression, Sautet stages a calm, careful study of these two lonely people."

- Janet Maslin : In: New York Times

"He is distant, polished and challengingly intelligent."

- Hal Hinson : In: Washington Post

“With sensitive observations, the film describes her impossible and unacknowledged love, the numerous moments of self-deception in everyday interaction. A film staged with economical means that can rely on great actors and a script that is psychologically consistent down to the nuances. With all seriousness lively and drawn with quiet humor. "

- In: Lexicon of international film

Awards

Claude Sautet's film received the prestigious Louis Delluc Prize for best French cinema production of the year in 1995 . A year later, the French Film Critics' Prize followed and the drama received eleven nominations for the César , making it a big favorite for this most important French film award, alongside Jean-Paul Rappeneau's historical film The Hussar on the Roof (10 nominations). At the award ceremony on March 2, 1996 in Paris, Nelly & Monsieur Arnaud surprisingly lost Mathieu Kassovitz 's hatred in the Best Film category ; only leading actor Michel Serrault and director Sautet were able to prevail against the competition. In 1997, Sautet's film was nominated for the British Academy Film Award , but was defeated by Patrice Lecontes period film Ridicule - On the ridiculousness of appearances .

César 1996

Awards won

  • Best director
  • Best Actor (Michel Serrault)

In addition, nominated in the categories:

Further awards

Web links

Footnotes

  1. ^ Nelly & Monsieur Arnaud. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed March 25, 2017 .Template: LdiF / Maintenance / Access used