The Watchmaker of Saint-Paul (1974)

This film is also showing at our sister cinema, Lido Cinemas

Australian Premiere - 4K Restoration

‘A work of old-fashioned precision … the physical and political ambience is rendered with a classically “invisible” aura of authenticity.’ – Paul Taylor, Time Out

‘An extraordinary film – the more so because it attempts to show us the very complicated workings of the human personality, and to do it with grace, some humor and a great deal of style.’ – Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

In Bertrand Tavernier’s feature directorial debut, adapted from a Georges Simenon novel, the quiet, orderly life of a widowed watchmaker (Philippe Noiret) is blown apart by the revelation that his teenage son has gone on the run after killing a man. Forming a relationship with a sympathetic police inspector (Jean Rochefort), the watchmaker searches for answers and grapples with the realisation that he knows far less about his son than he believed.

A classic of 1970s French cinema, The Watchmaker of Saint-Paul won the Special Jury Prize at the 1974 Berlin International Film Festival and launched its director’s distinguished, decades-spanning career.

Introduced by Barrie Pattison at Ritz Cinemas and Andrew McGregor at Lido Cinemas.

Rating

Unclassified 18+

Duration

105 min

Country

France

Language

French (English Subtitles)

Cast

Philippe Noiret, Jean Rochefort, Jacques Denis, Yves Afonso, Julien Bertheau, Clotilde Joano, Jacques Hilling, Sylvain Rougerie, Christine Pascal

Director

Bertrand Tavernier