The Sign of the lion

the Sign of the lion is a Film French (1959) of Eric Rohmer.

Synopsis

Pierre Wesserlin, Dutch musician, lead a merry bohemian life to Paris and expenditure without counting, on standby heritage. It thus accumulates the debts… until it learns that he is not heir. Its creditors then cut the vivres to him and those which were claimed his/her friends leave it. In full August, under an extreme sun, it is only found and stripped in the deserted capital and does not seek any more that to survive, but refuses to work. Become tramp, it touches the bottom, but its astral sign protects it.

Data sheet

Realization and scenario: Eric Rohmer
Production: Directing Ajym Films
of production: Jean Cotet
Dialogs: Eric Rohmer and Paul Gégauff
: Nicolas Hayer
Music: Louis Saguer
Sound: Jean Labussière
Assembly: Anne-Marie Coteret
Lasted: 90 '
the First projection on May 2nd, 1962
Kind: philosophical tale

Distribution

Jess Hahn (Pierre Wesserlin)
Michele Girardon (Dominique)
Sophie Perrault (Chris)
Stephan Audran (the owner of the hotel)
Francoise Prévost (Helene)
Véra Valmont (the woman of Nanterre)
Jill Olivier (Cathy)
Malka Ribowska (an young woman)
Chewed Méril (the fair Frenchwoman)
Van Doude (Santeuil)
Jean the Foal (Louse)
Paul Crauchet (Frederic)
Christian Alers (Philippe)
Paul Bisciglia (Willy)
Gilbert Edard (Michel)
Jean-Luc Godard (the man with the record player)
Appears also Jean-Pierre Melville, Alain Resnais, Marie Dubois, ATU Taeger, France Farnel, Jose Varela, etc

Comments

Before a a whole bitter reflection on the human solidarity, or rather its absence. However, optimism ends up overriding despair and some exceptions save a not very flattering portrait of the mankind, even if in fact rather the stars and the chance are saving.

Short appearance of Godard as a Sisyphus of the record player! Can one interpret it like disillusioned spectator of the nonsense of the human condition?

But, thanks to Rohmer of which it was the first feature-length film, it is especially admirable the Jess Hahn which makes film. One does not imagine another actor of the time, even in the large ones, for this role of a touching colossus of spontaneousness and generosity, but also extrèmement fragile.

Of American origin, Jess Hahn arrived to France in 1944 with the Allies, at the time of the Unloading of Normandy, and remained there. Rohmer is one of the rare French scenario writers to have given him a main role. It was often confined in supporting roles, even of the secondary roles…

Robert Enrico will offer also a beautiful composition in the Large Mouths to this strapping man (it balances in the ditch as a wisp of straw Lino Ventura which continues it!).

Jess Hahn was a force of the nature which one had desire for protecting. Except for the two above-mentioned scenario writers, it is damage which this sensitivity was also badly exploited to the screen…

NB: surprisingly, there exists a DVD of this film little known of the general public.

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