Guy de Maupassant

Claude Brasseur is tremendous in this literary biography by Michel Drach. The early years of Maupassant's life are glossed over: there's the fascination with prostitutes, the youthful attempts at writing poetry, the faint praise from Flaubert. All this is pretty forgettable.

The end of his life is very moving. The constant headaches and pain in the eyes from the syphilis he contracted, finally the suicide attempt and committal to Dr. Blanche's clinic in January 1892, then the long downward progression to death in July of the following year. Maupassant's belligerence, violence and helpless anxiety are very well rendered by Brasseur. Jean Carmet gives an unforgettable portrayal of the hapless servant; no French writer ever had a more devoted employee. The rest of the cast has little to do. Miou-Miou brightens the screen a few times with that wonderful smile, but her part is slight. Catherine Frot seems uneasy with her part as Mouche.

Claude Brasseur. and one of his touching, powerful, seductive roles. Jean Carmet as a magnificent Francois. and Simone Signoret. a good adaptation of novel and right details for define Maupassant's life. the childhood, the love stories, the fall, the end. all at its place. but, after its end, despite the acting, script and images, the impression is to see only a sketch. useful for discover the life of Guy de Maupassant but, maybe, not enough. sure, it is only a film. sure, few scenes are just fireworks. but the feminine presences are, in many cases, only shadows or promises. silhouettes. the status of hunter of Maupassant is not enough for understand the purpose of his passion. his victims seems be only stamps. and the solutions- the androgen by Miou/Miou- are only sketches of characters. in fact, an interesting introduction to the Maupassant's universe.

....maybe the best short stories writer France has ever had,please ,avoid this piece of garbage!Do not let the cast (Simone Signoret,Claude Brasseur,Miou-Miou) fool you.The movie really gives the people what they want ,that is to say spicy scenes from a dissolute life and nothing else.As far as the literary creation is concerned,there's almost nothing.Flaubert vaguely talks to him about one of his books and there a ridiculous attempt to transfer Maupassant's imagery (his terrifying short story "le horla")to the screen.

Michel Drach ,who was a commendable director when it came to making intimate stories ("Elise ou la vraie vie" "les violons du bal") ,sinks without a trace here.Better watching again and again Renoir's "une partie de campagne" .

This bio movie shows us aging famous French writer Guy de Maupassant in the last years of his life, when he lose his mind. The 19th Century set is very good, but too much flash backs don't help the movie. I also think that Claude Brasseur is not the best actor for that kind of role. He is too much rude, too much 20th Century! Rest of the cast is good, with veterans Jean Carmet and Simone Signoret. Watch for the finale : we can clearly see that director Michel Drach have seen some Fellini's films before...