RIVE DROIT, RIVE GAUCHE

France, 1984, 105 minutes, Colour.
Nathalie Baye, Carole Bouquet, Gerard Depardieu, Bernard Fresson.
Directed by Philippe Labro.

Rive Droit, Rive Gauche is an entertaining crime thriller with political overtones. It is Paris-based, has a very strong cast with Gerard Depardieu in his early years as well as Natalie Baye and Carole Bouquet.

The film touches on the atmosphere of France in the 1980s, the social background as well as the political background. It is also a film about relationships.

The film also is a media film with documentary aspects, television debates, evidence for cases being investigated with television evidence.

The film is interesting in its moral themes especially the contrast between private and public morality and the impact on politics and society.

1. Entertaining French thriller? Politics? Law?

2. The presentation of Paris? The piano accompaniment? The visuals?

3.Paris as a character? Paris and France? The French perspective and sensibility?

4. The structure of the film: Paul and Sacha? The intercutting? The relationships? Broader view? The end?

5. Gerard Depardieu's presence and style? Paul, Le President, skill, 'boy', wife and boy, partner, doubt? Bobby and sex? Good life, Sacha, the earring, meeting, no breakfast, pursuit, wife and anger? The documentary, the TV debate, success, Sacha, the affair? President and harassment? Breaking the partner? Secretary? Brutal? TV evidence? Partner - fight and reconciliation? Sacha rape? Finale? A character portrait?

6. Sacha: work, laser, Catherine, men, Paul, bog and encounters? Franchet? Losing the job? Television and Paul? Affair and joy? The wife, the car bashing, the father and the escape? The return, the rape? All ending well?

7. The President and power? Food, court, henchmen, politics? Thugs and their brutality? Betrayal? Television debate? Garrigne? TV court?

8. Franchet and the government?

9. Garrigne, money, friend, break, fight, being used, the end?

10. The portrait of the wife, relationship, sensuality?

11. Themes of morality: private, public, stances? Politics and society?