Credits
Director (1)
Actors (5)
Full credits (2)
- Screenwriter : Jean Cocteau
- Director of Photography : Henri Filipacchi
Technical details
- Type : Short film
- Genres : Fiction
- Production language : Silent
- Original French-language productions : Unspecified
- Nationality : 100% French
- Production year : 1950
- Production formats : 16mm
- Color type : Black & White
- Audio format : Silent
News & awards
About
The film was shot over the course of several years, mostly during weekends at Jean Cocteau's country house at Milly-la-foret outside Paris. The filming was done by Henri Filipacchi with his amateur 16-millimeter camera. There is no negative since the film used was Kodak 16 millimeter "inversible" (translated from French). The principal actors where Jean Marais, Josette Day and Jean Cocteau himself but certain friends who where invited to his country house on those weekends are visible at the beginning of the film. They include Paul Morhien, Jean Genet, George Mathis, the owner of the restaurant "Le Catalan" whose name is forgotten as well as Henri Filipacchi himself among others. The film was silent and there was no crew other then Henri Filipacchi the cameraman. Henri Filipacchi showed the movie several times in his apartment on rue d' Assas in Paris to guests on Sundays: they included Roberto Rossellini, Hughes Panassie, Simone Signoret and Micheline Presle. Henri Filipacchi kept the original and only copy of this film and at his death in 1961 passed it on to his son Daniel who is its current owner. Since then, the film has never been shown since Jean Cocteau and Henri Filipacchi had cleared instructed that this movie never be shown to anyone other then close friends. Jean Cocteau and Henri Filipacchi said: "It is our 'Chef d' Oeuvre Inconnu'" (Unknown Masterpiece).
Source : IMDB
Movies and programs to discover
MyFrenchShorts
Full film to discover (with English-subs)
In the maternity ward, Céline awaits the arrival of her first child. It is Jeanne, her partner, who will bring her into the world. At night, in the entrance hall of the hospital, she meets men who are waiting, like herself.
🏆 This short film won the César Award 2024 for Best Short Film (Fiction)