L'ennui

"An Obsession Out of Control"

Dec 16 1998 N/A 2h 2m
Drama, Romance

A philosophy teacher restless with the need to do something with his life meets a young woman suspected of driving an artist to his death. He finds the very simple Cecilia irritating but develops a sexual rapport with her. Obsessed with the need to own and tormented by her inability to respond to him, he becomes increasingly violent in a quest he can't name - a quest that slowly begins to undermine his certainties.

Plot

Martin is a middle-aged philosophy teacher in the midst of a mid-life crisis. Lacking direction or purpose in his life, he initiates an affair with Cécilia, a young artist's model who might have killed her former lover with the intensity of her sexual appetite. They share a purely erotic relationship as an intellectual abyss separates them. Before long, he needs to possess her and cannot resist a sharp descent into violent jealousy.

Written by

Cédric Kahn, Laurence Ferreira Barbosa, Alberto Moravia

Directed by

Cédric Kahn

Cast

Charles Berling, Sophie Guillemin, Arielle Dombasle

Crew

View crew

Production Countries

Portugal, France

Production Companies

Madragoa Filmes, Ima Films, Canal+, Gemini Films, CNC

Languages

Français

Awards

1 win & 5 nominations

Scores
# of Votes
2,349
Average Rating
6 out of 10
Metascore
59
Popularity
NA