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Une pure formalité

Original title: Una pura formalità
  • 1994
  • Tous publics
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
13K
YOUR RATING
Gérard Depardieu and Roman Polanski in Une pure formalité (1994)
Trailer for A Pure Formality
Play trailer1:38
1 Video
87 Photos
Psychological ThrillerCrimeDramaThriller

Onoff is a famous writer who hasn't published any new books for quite some time and has become a recluse. When he is picked up by the police one stormy night, without any identification, out... Read allOnoff is a famous writer who hasn't published any new books for quite some time and has become a recluse. When he is picked up by the police one stormy night, without any identification, out of breath and running madly, without clear memory of recent events, the Inspector is susp... Read allOnoff is a famous writer who hasn't published any new books for quite some time and has become a recluse. When he is picked up by the police one stormy night, without any identification, out of breath and running madly, without clear memory of recent events, the Inspector is suspicious.

  • Director
    • Giuseppe Tornatore
  • Writers
    • Giuseppe Tornatore
    • Pascal Quignard
  • Stars
    • Gérard Depardieu
    • Roman Polanski
    • Sergio Rubini
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    13K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Giuseppe Tornatore
    • Writers
      • Giuseppe Tornatore
      • Pascal Quignard
    • Stars
      • Gérard Depardieu
      • Roman Polanski
      • Sergio Rubini
    • 53User reviews
    • 26Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 5 wins & 9 nominations total

    Videos1

    A Pure Formality
    Trailer 1:38
    A Pure Formality

    Photos87

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    Top cast14

    Edit
    Gérard Depardieu
    Gérard Depardieu
    • Onoff
    Roman Polanski
    Roman Polanski
    • Inspector
    Sergio Rubini
    Sergio Rubini
    • Andre, the Young Policeman
    Nicola Di Pinto
    Nicola Di Pinto
    • Captain
    Tano Cimarosa
    Tano Cimarosa
    • Servant
    Paolo Lombardi
    • Marshall
    Maria Rosa Spagnolo
    • Paula
    Alberto Sironi
    Alberto Sironi
    Giovanni Morricone
    Mahdi Kraiem
    Massimo Vanni
    Massimo Vanni
    Sebastiano Filocamo
    Timothy Martin
    Timothy Martin
    • Police Officer
    • (uncredited)
    Gianluca Petrazzi
    • Policeman
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Giuseppe Tornatore
    • Writers
      • Giuseppe Tornatore
      • Pascal Quignard
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews53

    7.513.2K
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    Featured reviews

    BermudezLievano

    Intriguing discovery

    I watched this film captured by the presence of Roman Polanski in the credits. The result was very intriguing. Through the reminiscences of famous writer Onoff (Depardieu) and the shrewd interventions of the Inspector (Polanski) the crime is effectively solved. The dialogue is exceptional, and both men's performances are quite good. Basically this is a very interesting and intriguing film, and fortunately not pretentious. Highly recommendable.
    10m_m-3

    I never forget this film

    It was a fantastic movie and it has a shocking ending. The performances was great specially Gerard Depardieu. It was one of the best mystery films after The Usual Suspects. And I think it should be in top 250 but it is not.

    The direction was brilliant and you can not guess the ending. We can not forget the screen play all of It's words was amazing. All of the film is an investigation but you never feeling tired and I think the direction and screen play make it like this. You see this movie when you have an open mind because it makes some question in your mind. At last: I really enjoyed that and I gave it 10/10
    falconesque

    Intimate little mystery

    I'll admit I channel-surfed into this gem. Click, and there's Depardieu, soaking wet and haggard, speaking French with English subtitles, in a lovely cluttered room...okay, I'm intrigued. (The room alone is enough to hold my attention; wonderful set dressing.) But moments later, the intrigue deepens. Who's that Inspector, so skeptical yet almost friendly in his interrogation? The actor looks so familiar. And his Inspector is nearly apologetic. Perhaps he's a fan of Depardieu's writer?

    Boiled down to its essence, A Pure Formality is two guys talking, but I love two-guys-talking films. I was intrigued enough to avoid the listings and let the credits reveal Roman Polanski as acting the Inspector -- though he'd started his career acting, I'd seen only cameo appearances -- and his succinct performance dictates the pacing more often than not. You gotta like the guy, even though the Inspector's the antagonist to Depardieu's sympathetic and central point-of-view.

    The film appeals to me as a writer, worrying if another eloquent phrase will ever flow, as a reader of mysteries and non-fictional criminal law (intertwining cluesmithing; you can keep the gory details), as a fetishist for the French countryside and language, and as a lover of libraries.

    A Pure Formality is craftsmanship deserving a stellar DVD release.
    10ramsri81

    One Pure Cinema ....

    One word that can sum up this movie is Fantastic!!! The thing about this movie is I wasn't lucky like a few other people over here to watch this movie without expecting anything. I almost knew everything I needed to know about this movie even before I bought the DVD. The movie was a pure cinema in every sense of the word. I expect the movie to contain a decent story, good actors, a little bit of suspense, a little comedy (not mandatory) and a classic ending. This one provided me with all of these things and more. The movie is really a manifestation of some one's mind. The acting is uniformly brilliant. I know Polanski is a decent actor and I loved him in The Tenant, but here he is just pure Master Class.Gérard Depardieu is a legend in France and in International Cinema and he shows in this movie why is that. In a short summary the movie involves a person being questioned for staying out in the woods without any identification. When it turns out to be the Great Writer Onoff who doesn't quite remember how he came to that place. How the Inspector Da Vinci(Polanski) gets out the answer forms the rest of the story. Enjoy the movie except for one scene of crude nudity from Gérard Depardieu. That was scary!!!! I rate this movie 10/10 (inspite of Gérard Depardieu's scary back!!!)
    10bicgus1

    One of the Best films I've seen

    I must thank Imdb, because I would have never watched this masterpiece if it weren't for it's user comments. The film is indeed remarkable, in the style of Adrian Lyne's "Jacob's Ladder", and although it's the kind of film that needs a second watch in order to get everything together, and that I got everything together thanks to some user comments, I was astonished to see how it worked over my feeling as if another part of me had completely understood the plot with just one watch. Warning: you might feel somewhat sad when watching this film. Not the kind of feeling of sadness of typical films in which a boy gets leuchemia; I'm talking about a DEEP, REAL feeling about life. The actors, the words, the scenography, they are all WONDERFUL. All. Do not miss it.

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The film cast includes one Oscar winner: Roman Polanski; and one Oscar nominee: Gérard Depardieu.
    • Goofs
      At 28:05, as Roman Polanski, closes the door after entering in his office with Depardieu, his voice does not match his lips movement.
    • Quotes

      Andre, the Young Policeman: An idea for a new book?

      Onoff: You don't write because you have an idea, but because you can't do anything else.

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: Casper/Mad Love/Braveheart/Johnny Mnemonic/A Pure Formality (1995)
    • Soundtracks
      Ricordare
      Music by Andrea Morricone and Ennio Morricone

      Lyrics by Pascal Quignard and Giuseppe Tornatore

      Performed by Gérard Depardieu

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    FAQ16

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 15, 1994 (Italy)
    • Countries of origin
      • Italy
      • France
    • Official site
      • Sony
    • Language
      • French
    • Also known as
      • A Pure Formality
    • Filming locations
      • Santo Stefano di Sessanio, L'Aquila, Abruzzo, Italy(set of the police precinct; village visible in the distance in final scene)
    • Production companies
      • Cecchi Gori Group Tiger Cinematografica
      • DD Productions
      • Film Par Film
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $190,749
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $35,639
      • May 29, 1995
    • Gross worldwide
      • $190,749
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 48m(108 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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