Menage

Theatrical Release Date: 1986 10 03 (USA)

UPC: 741952317098

Studio: Koch/Lorber Films

Summary: Menage begins as a comedy of sorts, but be warned: it develops into a very dark, very confusing probe into the seamier aspects of Parisian life. Gerard Depardieu plays a crude but charismatic thief, whose own gayness does not prevent his commiserating with those of the opposite sex. Miou-Miou and Michel Blanc are young, impoverished lovers who fall under Depardieu's influence. He gains their confidence by introducing them to kinky sex, then sucks them into a vortex of crime. Director Bertrand Blier, who in most of his films has explored the awesome power (rather than pleasure) of sex, nearly outdoes himself in Menage (aka Tenue de Soiree). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Category: Comedy

Awards: Best Actor – Cannes Film Festival Best Foreign Film – National Board of Review

Menage

Format: Digital Video Disc (DVD)

Release Date: 07/14/2009

Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Alternate Wide Screen

Audio: DD2 Dolby Digital Stereo

Runtime: 84 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) French

Subtitles: English

Chapters: Disc #1 -- M?nage
1. Scared [6:06]
2. Smell the Money [4:49]
3. Gold Bars [4:13]
4. Vandalized Homes [7:09]
5. Question of Trust [4:20]
6. Alone With Your Shame [9:50]
7. Unfair Competition [4:45]
8. Disoriented [11:26]
9. Something Modest [11:40]
10. Slow Dance [8:35]
11. Your Soul [8:49]
12. Another Beer [2:29]

Craig Butler

Considered somewhat daring in 1986, Tenue de Soiree's subject matter -- a thief who seduces both a husband and wife and then steals the husband away from the wife -- is not as surprising today, which lessens the film's impact somewhat. As with many of director/writer Bertrand Blier's films, Tenue deals with male-male relationships vs. male-female relationships, coming down decidedly on the side of the former. Blier's particular world view will not be shared by all, especially in its specifics, but in Tenue, Blier's personal commitment to it informs the picture with power. Yet despite all this, Tenue is ultimately a buoyant comedy; even when it gets serious, the jokes keep coming, although they get more disturbing as the film goes on. Blier is helped immensely by his irreplaceable trio of stars. As the lone female, Miou-Miou has the most difficult part, playing a woman who is written as rather shrewish and imbuing her with enough dimension to make her a strong, realized person. Michel Blanc is a treat as the milquetoast husband, seemingly good natured and bland but actually more interesting than that. And Gerard Depardieu has a grand time as the flamboyant master manipulator with a penchant for tiger stripe briefs. Though some will find the premise and attitude of the film difficult to take, for those who can tune into its wave, it's a witty little treat. ~ Craig Butler, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Michel Pilorge  Actor 
Michel Such  Actor 
Moiu-Moiu  Actor 
Maurice Travail  Actor 
Bertrand Blier  Director 
Bertrand Blier  Screenwriter 
René Cleitman  Producer 
Philippe Dussart  Producer 
Serge Gainsbourg  Composer (Music Score) 
Gérard Depardieu  Actor 
Michel Blanc  Actor 
Miou-Miou  Actor 
Bruno Cremer  Actor 
Jean-Pierre Marielle  Actor 
Caroline Sihol  Actor 
Jean-François Stévenin  Actor 
Mylène Demongeot  Actor 
Michel Creton  Actor 
Jean-Yves Berteloot  Actor 

Country: France