Directed by:
Alain ResnaisCinematography:
Bruno NuyttenComposer:
Philippe-GérardCast:
Vittorio Gassman, Geraldine Chaplin, Fanny Ardant, Pierre Arditi, Caroline Sihol, Sabine Azéma, Samson Fainsilber, André Dussollier, Véronique Silver (more)Plots(1)
The film is a compelling mixture of genres divided into 3 narratives, including an early 20th century utopian castle built by Count Forbeck, modern professors living in that castle, and a Wagnerian fantasy landscape of kings and dragons. Alain Resnais pays tribute to three influential French filmmakers: Georges Méliès, Marcel L'Herbier and Eric Rohmer with this lighthearted film about happiness and the power of the imagination. The film is divided into three parallel narratives. The first section is set around the first decade of the 20th century in the Ardennes, where Count Forbeck unveils his architect's designs for a utopian city. In a modern day mirroring of this story, a group of professors now inhabiting Forbeck's castle seek a new form of education through the use of the imagination, under the guidance of a guru named Guarini. The third segment depicts a Wagnerian fantasy landscape of kings and dragons, which arises from the imagination of the children of some of the professors at the school. With ingenuity and great craftsmanship, Resnais weaves together these three threads to make LIFE IS A BED OF ROSES a compelling and entertaining mixture of drama, satire, comedy, fantasy and music. (Cinemax)
(more)Cast
Jean-Claude Lecas
France
Best movies:
The Cry of the Owl (1987)
Story of Women (1988)
Das jüngste Gericht (2008) (TV movie)
Janine Magnan
France
Best movies:
In the Affirmative (1964)
Life Love Death (1969)
Life Is a Bed of Roses (1983)
Fabienne Mai
France
Best movies:
The Count of Monte Cristo (1998) (series)
A Thousand Billion Dollars (1982)
I Can't Sleep (1994)
Laurent Spielvogel
France
Best movies:
Ronin (1998)
Midnight in Paris (2011)
The First Time I Turned Twenty (2004)
Lucienne Hamon
France
Best movies:
Life Size (1974)
The Lovers (1958)
Life Is a Bed of Roses (1983)
Fabienne Guyon
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Life Is a Bed of Roses (1983)
A Room in Town (1982)
Marc Adjadj
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The Fugitives (1986)
Life Is a Bed of Roses (1983)
Move Along, There Is Nothing to See (1983)
François Guétary
France
Best movies:
Sharpe's Enemy (1994) (TV movie)
The Brave Judge (2018) (TV movie)
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Yann Dedet
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Day for Night (1973)
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Luc Ponette
France
Best movies:
Law Breakers (1971)
The Hurried Man (1977)
Life Is a Bed of Roses (1983)
Françoise Morhange
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Boulevard des assassins (1982)
Life Is a Bed of Roses (1983)
Violetta Sanchez
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Life Is a Bed of Roses (1983)
Time to Leave (2005)
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Philippe Besson
Germany
Best movies:
The Sentinel (1992)
Caché (2005)
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Tomasz Białkowski
Poland
Best movies:
The French Revolution (1989) (TV movie)
Life Is a Bed of Roses (1983)
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Jean-Claude Arnaud
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I've Loved You So Long (2008)
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Pierre Julien
France
Best movies:
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Série noire (1984) (series)
Life Is a Bed of Roses (1983)
Pierre Londiche
Best movies:
La Dernière Nuit (1981) (TV movie)
Mado (1976)
The Things of Life (1970)
Jean-Pierre Lituac
Best movies:
Life Is a Bed of Roses (1983)
Huis clos (1954)
Nicolas Tronc
France
Best movies:
Life and Nothing But (1989)
Life Is a Bed of Roses (1983)
Maigret (1991) (series)