India Song
Encyclopedia
India Song is a 1975 French drama film directed by Marguerite Duras
. India Song stars Delphine Seyrig
, Michel Lonsdale, Mathieu Carriere
, Claude Mann, Vernon Dobtcheff
and Didier Flamand. The film centres on Anne-Marie (Seyrig), the promiscuous wife of the French Vice-Consul in India, and was based on an unproduced play written by Duras. Although set in India, the film was shot mostly on location in a mansion in Paris.
) is the wife of the French vice-consul in India in the 1930s. Growing bored with the oppressive lifestyle she leads, she begins to compulsively sleep with other men to alleviate her situation. Her husband (Michel Lonsdale) knows of her indiscretions, but is tolerant of her promiscuity.
finished in July 1972. The play had been commissioned for the Royal National Theater by Peter Hall. Duras had only visited India briefly in her teens, but chose to not watch any photographs from Calcutta while she worked on India Song, preferring to imagine it all.
The film cost 254,542 franc
s to produce, of which 250,000 came from the CNC. Dominique Sanda
was the first choice for the leading role, but dropped out and was replaced by Seyrig. Finding the main location took several months; eventually Duras chose the Palais Rothschild in Boulogne
, which she had seen during a walk and which had impressed her. The Rothschild family
had abandoned the building after World War II
and it had started to dilapidate. Other scenes were shot at the Grand Trianon
in Versaille, and in two Paris apartments which were about to be demolished. Filming started May 13, 1974 and lasted two months. The voices were pre-recorded.
, and was shown out of competition at the 1975 Cannes Film Festival
. It was released in France on June 4, 1975.
, reviewed the film in a negative light, finding that it was aesthetically pleasing but shallow. Canby described India Song as "no content and all style", although he felt that Seyrig's portrayal of Anne-Marie was "marvelous to contemplate". Clarke Fountain, reviewing the film for Allrovi, rated it four out of five stars. Michel Lonsdale, who portrays the Anne-Marie's husband, the French Vice-Consul, considers his part to be his "most favorite role", adding that "it helped me exorcise the suffering I was going through at the time in my personal life".
India Song was nominated for three César Award
s in 1976—Best Music Written for a Film
for Carlos d'Alessio, Best Sound
for Michel Vionnet, and Best Actress
for Delphine Seyrig. However, the film did not win in any of the nominated categories. It was France's submission for Best Foreign Language Film
at the 48th Academy Awards
, but did not receive a nomination.
Marguerite Duras
Marguerite Donnadieu, better known as Marguerite Duras was a French writer and film director.-Background:...
. India Song stars Delphine Seyrig
Delphine Seyrig
Delphine Claire Beltiane Seyrig was a stage and film actress and a film director.-Early life:...
, Michel Lonsdale, Mathieu Carriere
Mathieu Carrière
Mathieu Carrière is a German actor.Carrière grew up in Berlin and Lübeck; he attended the Jesuit boarding school Lycée Saint-François-Xavier in Vannes, France, a school which had previously been attended by the director of Carrière's first major film, Volker Schlöndorff. In 1969 Carrière moved to...
, Claude Mann, Vernon Dobtcheff
Vernon Dobtcheff
Vernon Dobtcheff is a French and British actor.Dobtcheff was born in Nîmes, France, to a family of Russian descent. He attended Ascham Preparatory School in Eastbourne, Sussex, England, in the 1940s, where he won the Acting Cup...
and Didier Flamand. The film centres on Anne-Marie (Seyrig), the promiscuous wife of the French Vice-Consul in India, and was based on an unproduced play written by Duras. Although set in India, the film was shot mostly on location in a mansion in Paris.
Plot
Anne-Marie (Delphine SeyrigDelphine Seyrig
Delphine Claire Beltiane Seyrig was a stage and film actress and a film director.-Early life:...
) is the wife of the French vice-consul in India in the 1930s. Growing bored with the oppressive lifestyle she leads, she begins to compulsively sleep with other men to alleviate her situation. Her husband (Michel Lonsdale) knows of her indiscretions, but is tolerant of her promiscuity.
Production
The script for India Song was based on an unproduced play which Marguerite DurasMarguerite Duras
Marguerite Donnadieu, better known as Marguerite Duras was a French writer and film director.-Background:...
finished in July 1972. The play had been commissioned for the Royal National Theater by Peter Hall. Duras had only visited India briefly in her teens, but chose to not watch any photographs from Calcutta while she worked on India Song, preferring to imagine it all.
The film cost 254,542 franc
French franc
The franc was a currency of France. Along with the Spanish peseta, it was also a de facto currency used in Andorra . Between 1360 and 1641, it was the name of coins worth 1 livre tournois and it remained in common parlance as a term for this amount of money...
s to produce, of which 250,000 came from the CNC. Dominique Sanda
Dominique Sanda
Dominique Sanda is a French actress and former fashion model.Sanda was born as Dominique Marie-Françoise Renée Varaigne in Paris to Lucienne and Gérard Varaigne...
was the first choice for the leading role, but dropped out and was replaced by Seyrig. Finding the main location took several months; eventually Duras chose the Palais Rothschild in Boulogne
Boulogne-Billancourt
Boulogne-Billancourt is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris. Boulogne-Billancourt is a sub-prefecture of the Hauts-de-Seine department and the seat of the Arrondissement of Boulogne-Billancourt....
, which she had seen during a walk and which had impressed her. The Rothschild family
Rothschild family
The Rothschild family , known as The House of Rothschild, or more simply as the Rothschilds, is a Jewish-German family that established European banking and finance houses starting in the late 18th century...
had abandoned the building after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and it had started to dilapidate. Other scenes were shot at the Grand Trianon
Grand Trianon
The Grand Trianon was built in the northwestern part of the Domain of Versailles at the request of Louis XIV, as a retreat for the King and his maîtresse en titre of the time, the marquise de Montespan, and as a place where the King and invited guests could take light meals away from the strict...
in Versaille, and in two Paris apartments which were about to be demolished. Filming started May 13, 1974 and lasted two months. The voices were pre-recorded.
Release
India Song was shown as part of the 1975 New York Film FestivalNew York Film Festival
The New York Film Festival has been a major film festival since it began in 1963 in New York. The films are selected by the Film Society of Lincoln Center...
, and was shown out of competition at the 1975 Cannes Film Festival
1975 Cannes Film Festival
- Jury :*Jeanne Moreau, President, actress*André Delvaux, director*Anthony Burgess, writer*Fernando Rey, actor*George Roy Hill, director*Gérard Ducaux-Rupp, producer*Léa Massari, actress*Pierre Mazars, journalist*Pierre Salinger, writer...
. It was released in France on June 4, 1975.
Reception
Vincent Canby, writing for the The New York TimesThe New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, reviewed the film in a negative light, finding that it was aesthetically pleasing but shallow. Canby described India Song as "no content and all style", although he felt that Seyrig's portrayal of Anne-Marie was "marvelous to contemplate". Clarke Fountain, reviewing the film for Allrovi, rated it four out of five stars. Michel Lonsdale, who portrays the Anne-Marie's husband, the French Vice-Consul, considers his part to be his "most favorite role", adding that "it helped me exorcise the suffering I was going through at the time in my personal life".
India Song was nominated for three César Award
César Award
The César Award is the national film award of France, first given out in 1975. The nominations are selected by the members of the Académie des arts et techniques du cinéma....
s in 1976—Best Music Written for a Film
César Award for Best Music Written for a Film
This is the list of winners and nominees of the César Award for Best Music Written for a Film . Before 2000, the award was called "César Award for Best Music".-1970s:...
for Carlos d'Alessio, Best Sound
César Award for Best Sound
This is the list of winners and nominees of the César Award for Best Sound .-Winners and nominees:*1976 : Nara Kollery *1977 : Jean-Pierre Ruh *1978 : Jacques Maumont...
for Michel Vionnet, and Best Actress
César Award for Best Actress
List of winners and nominees of the César Award for Best Actress .-Winners and nominees:...
for Delphine Seyrig. However, the film did not win in any of the nominated categories. It was France's submission for Best Foreign Language Film
Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
The Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film is one of the Academy Awards of Merit, popularly known as the Oscars, handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
at the 48th Academy Awards
48th Academy Awards
The 48th Academy Awards were presented March 29, 1976 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles. The ceremonies were presided over by Walter Matthau, Robert Shaw, George Segal, Goldie Hawn, and Gene Kelly...
, but did not receive a nomination.
See also
- 1975 in film1975 in filmThe year 1975 in film involved some significant events, with Steven Spielberg's thriller Jaws topping the box office.-Events:*March 26 - The film version of The Who's Tommy premieres in London....
- Cinema of FranceCinema of FranceThe Cinema of France comprises the art of film and creative movies made within the nation of France or by French filmmakers abroad.France is the birthplace of cinema and was responsible for many of its early significant contributions. Several important cinematic movements, including the Nouvelle...
- List of French submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
- List of submissions to the 48th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film