Hygiène de l'assassin
Synopsis
"When I read Amélie Nothomb's novel," says the film's director François Ruggieri, "I immediately thought the story could be intensified if the film started at the end. First we discover that Prétextat Tach is dead, and then we tell his story backwards. I resorted to flashbacks because of the film’s double tale: the ongoing investigation into the suspected murderers and their motives, and the revelation of various aspects of the victim's life during his youth." Prétextat Tach is not only a famous and feted author, but has even won the Nobel Prize for Literature. Tach lives as a recluse in a huge, gloomy apartment. He has virtually hasn't seen anyone for years. When he learns that he's dying of cancer, he agrees to meet reporters in order to transmit his vision of things to mankind, to deliver his spiritual testament. The next day, he is found dead. Perhaps murdered. During the investigation, the police uncover some pretty racy details about the old ogre's past, but are they enough to incriminate the young reporter, Nina, who was the last person to see Tach alive?
Credits
Director (1)
Actors (12)
Production and distribution (2)
- Executive Producer : TSF Productions
- French distribution : M.F.D.
Full credits (13)
- Executive Producer : François Ruggieri
- Adaptation : François Ruggieri
- Screenwriter : François Ruggieri
- Director of Photography : Alex Lamarque
- Music Composer : Jacques Davidovici
- Editors : Delphine Desfons, Marie-Pierre Renaud
- Sound Recordist : Pierre Befve
- Costume designer : Ivone Teles Desclozeaux
- Author of original work : Amélie Nothomb
- Assistant Operator : Rodolphe Soucaret
- Press Attaché (film) : Vanessa Jerrom
- Sound Editor : Philippe Grivel
- Production Designer : Maamar Ech-Cheikh
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Technical details
- Type : Feature film
- Genres : Fiction
- Sub-genre : Literary adaptation , Drama
- Production language : French
- Original French-language productions : Unspecified
- Nationality : 100% French
- Production year : 1998
- French release : 24/02/1999
- Runtime : 1 h 20 min
- Current status : Released
- Visa number : 91.212
- Visa issue date : 02/10/1998
- Approval : Yes
- Production formats : 35mm
- Color type : Color
- Aspect ratio : 1.85
- Audio format : Dolby SR
Box-office & releases
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International releases
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News & awards
Selections (2)
Cairo - International Film Festival
Egypt, 1999
Festival of festivals
About
When I read Amélie Nothomb's novel, I immediately thought the story could be intensified if the film started at the end. First we discover that Prétextat Tach is dead, and then we tell his story backwards. I resorted to flashbacks because of the film’s double tale: the ongoing investigation into the suspected murderers and their motives, and the revelation of various aspects of the victim's life during his youth. Tales within tales unfold. Nina’s interview and videotape of Tach progressively reveal the story of this strange man, and more comes to light when she is questioned by police. Other decisions came about for technical reasons: should part of the film be shot in black-and-white, the other part in color? Etcetera... (François Ruggierri – Director)
