French film maker René Féret made his début with this film in 1974.It was his first critical success and applause for it came from famous French philosopher Michel Foucault who compared this film to British master Ken Loach's film "Family Life".This comparison is absolutely valid as like Ken Loach who has been an ardent supporter depicting the cause of English life in his films,René Féret has also championed the cause of Northern France in films.For those who are bothered about story and plot there is not much of hope.The real story of this film,if there is any story,is to be judged by the fact that film's helpless protagonist Paul has been condemned to a madhouse after a failed suicide attempt.Paul's plight is the central focus of the film as in psychiatric ward,he is compelled neither to have any history nor any story.What we see in this film is a sad tale which takes place in a psychiatric hospital whose inmates,doctors live according to their own set of rules.As a scathing attack on the absurdity of system in French mental institutions,L'histoire de Paul won Jean Vigo award in 1974.
3 Reviews
Sad story
dbdumonteil11 November 2006
René Feret is largely overlooked in his native France.His "Mystere Alexina" was certainly one of the most original movies of the thirty last years.
"Histoire de Paul" is a sad depressing story.Filmed on a shoestring budget,with no stars (like Bresson,his closest relative)and an austere treatment,Feret tells the story of a depressive young man ,an inmate in a psychiatrist hospital where humanity seems to have disappeared. The loss of a sense of self best describes this work.
Should appeal to people who were moved by Kenneth Loach's "family life" or Georges Franju's "la Tete Contre les Murs" .
"Histoire de Paul" is a sad depressing story.Filmed on a shoestring budget,with no stars (like Bresson,his closest relative)and an austere treatment,Feret tells the story of a depressive young man ,an inmate in a psychiatrist hospital where humanity seems to have disappeared. The loss of a sense of self best describes this work.
Should appeal to people who were moved by Kenneth Loach's "family life" or Georges Franju's "la Tete Contre les Murs" .
Paul's story.
morrison-dylan-fan16 April 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Coming up to my 1,650th review,I started looking for unique titles to mark the occasion. Whilst taking part in a French films and 70's challenges on ICM,I found an intriguing-sounding 1975 French film,which led to me getting ready to visit Paul.
View on the film:
Opening with a long shot of Paul slowly walking down a hospital corridor,producer/writer/director Rene Feret & cinematographer Nurith Aviv bring Paul in to an incredibly brittle atmosphere,utterly drained of colour and the walls covered in the grime of the black and white film stock. Limiting any light from the outside to refreshing shots of a river,Feret and Aviv present everything in a stark matter of fact manner, with lingering shots over the patients and doctors interacting with each other, and long distance shots capturing the decade plus passage of time the patients have spent at the hospital.
Perfectly matching the visual style,the screenplay by Feret keeps details of outside life to bare outlines, with Paul's mum being the only parent to be shown at the ward. Avoiding the cliches usually linked to this setting (no psychotic doctors!) Feret (who based the film on his on time in a ward after he attempted suicide after his dad had died) clinically dissects an institution offering little empathy, where all are trapped in soul-destroying,repetitive routines. With Feret wisely deciding to not cast any "big names" for his debut, Paul Allio gives an excellent,washed-out performance as the tragic story of Paul.
View on the film:
Opening with a long shot of Paul slowly walking down a hospital corridor,producer/writer/director Rene Feret & cinematographer Nurith Aviv bring Paul in to an incredibly brittle atmosphere,utterly drained of colour and the walls covered in the grime of the black and white film stock. Limiting any light from the outside to refreshing shots of a river,Feret and Aviv present everything in a stark matter of fact manner, with lingering shots over the patients and doctors interacting with each other, and long distance shots capturing the decade plus passage of time the patients have spent at the hospital.
Perfectly matching the visual style,the screenplay by Feret keeps details of outside life to bare outlines, with Paul's mum being the only parent to be shown at the ward. Avoiding the cliches usually linked to this setting (no psychotic doctors!) Feret (who based the film on his on time in a ward after he attempted suicide after his dad had died) clinically dissects an institution offering little empathy, where all are trapped in soul-destroying,repetitive routines. With Feret wisely deciding to not cast any "big names" for his debut, Paul Allio gives an excellent,washed-out performance as the tragic story of Paul.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
