L'appartement (1996)

Director:

Gilles Mimouni

Writer:

Gilles Mimouni (writer)

Release Date:

27 July 1996 (Japan)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Romance

Plot:

Max is on his way to Tokyo. He lives in Paris and likes to flirt but has decided to get married. By chance...

Plot Keywords:

Buddy | Apartment | Airport | Nonlinear Timeline | Actress

Awards:

Won BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Romane Bohringer	...	Alice
Vincent Cassel	...	Max
Jean-Philippe Écoffey	...	Lucien
Monica Bellucci	...	Lisa
Sandrine Kiberlain	...	Muriel
Olivier Granier	...	Daniel
Paul Pavel	...	Jeweller
Nelly Alard	...	Madeleine
Bruno Leonelli	...	Alain Beccaria
Tateo Isaizaki	...	Japanese Businessman
Tsuyu Shimizu	...	Japanese Interpreter
Ricardo Mateo	...	Cafe Waiter
Vincent Nemeth	...	Barman
Bruno Fernández Vella	...	Video Technician
Juan Carlos Martín Alonso	...	Video Technician
Claude Hirch	...	Video Technician
Hervé Jakubowicz	...	Video Sales
Oury Milshtein	...	Receptionist
Roger Patrice Bernard	...	Room Service
Vanessa Soboul	...	Josiane
Sandra Gayarre	...	Shoe salesperson
Marcel Godot	...	Hotel Manager
André Haber	...	Priest
Bruno Ricci	...	Theatre Actor
Fenia Papadodima	...	Theatre Actess (as Photini Papadodima)
Edouard Baer	...	Theatre Actor
Michel Bompoil	...	Director
Michèle Rème	...	Theatre Secretary
Jorge Bosch	...	Bernard
Eva Ionesco	...	Woman at Travel Agency
Enzo Gallo	...	Passer-by
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Diane Calma	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Gilles Mimouni

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Gilles Mimouni		writer

Produced by
Georges Benayoun	....	producer
Mate Cantero	....	associate producer
Elisabeth Deviosse	....	executive producer
Yves Marmion	....	associate producer
Stéphane Sorlat	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Peter Chase

Cinematography by
Thierry Arbogast

Film Editing by
Caroline Biggerstaff
Françoise Bonnot

Casting by
Gigi Akoka

Production Design by
Philippe Chiffre

Art Direction by
Philippe Chiffre

Set Decoration by
Corinne Lafaille

Costume Design by
Laurence Heller

Makeup Department
Lourdes Briones	....	makeup artist
John Nollet	....	hair stylist
Luca Oblach	....	head makeup artist

Production Management
Bruno Coulon	....	unit manager
Patrice Poupard	....	unit manager
Jacques Scarrone	....	unit production manager
Ana Vila	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Marta de Benito	....	assistant director
Hervé Jakubowicz	....	assistant director
Bernard Pujolar	....	assistant director
Luc Riff	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Vincent Arnardi	....	sound re-recording mixer
Eric Chevallier	....	sound recordist
Eric Devulder	....	sound
Thierry Lebon	....	sound mixer
Stephane Lioret	....	boom operator
Jacques Thomas-Gérard	....	sound mixer
Vincent Tulli	....	sound effects
Ken Yasumoto	....	assistant sound editor

Special Effects by
Reyes Abades	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Gil Fontbonne	....	key grip
Carlos Parra	....	electrician

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Laurence Heller	....	costumes

Editorial Department
Yvan Lucas	....	color timer
Isabelle Manquillet	....	trainee assistant editor
Isabelle Proust	....	assistant editor

Production Companies

• Cecchi Gori Group Tiger Cinematografica
• IMA Productions
• La Sept Cinéma
• M6 Films
• Mate Producciones S.A.
• Union Générale Cinématographique (UGC)

Distributors

• Artificial Eye (1997) (UK) (theatrical)
• Cinemien (1997) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Galileo Medien AG (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• Homescreen (1997) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Lionsgate (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Madman Entertainment (2003) (Australia) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2006) (Finland) (DVD)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (2000) (Finland) (TV)

Special Effects

• Les Versaillais

Also Known As:

Flash-back (El apartamento) (Spain)
L'appartamento (Italy)
The Apartment

MPAA:

Rated R for some sexuality/nudity.

Runtime:

116 min

Country:

France | Spain | Italy

Language:

French | English | Japanese

Colour:

Colour

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

UK:15 | USA:R (DVD) | Finland:K-15 (2006) | South Korea:18 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Estudios Los Angeles, Madrid, Spain

Company:

Cecchi Gori Group Tiger Cinematografica

Movie Connections:

Features The Kid (1921)

Soundtrack:

Same kind of woman

Fantastic!

"L'appartement" has to be among the best French films I have ever seen (along with "Hatred", also starring Vincent Cassel, and those great Gerard Dépardieu/Pierre Richard movies). Cassel and Bellucci are amazing in the leading roles. Aside from "Brotherhood Of The Wolves" and "Dobermann" I have not yet seen a bad movie with this couple. "L'appartement" sucks you in from the beginning and the twists and turns keep you thrilled until the very end. Fragment storytelling really hasn't worked this well since "Pulp Fiction". Let's just hope there won't be a godawful American remake of this unique romance/mystery-thriller. (EDIT: Guess what! A godawful American remake has been made!)!