DramaRomance

The Woman Next Door

- A destructive passion between desire and madness.

Madame Jouve, the narrator, tells the tragedy of Bernard and Mathilde. Bernard was living happily with his wife Arlette and his son Thomas. One day, a couple, Philippe and Mathilde Bauchard, moves into the next house. This is the accidental reunion of Bernard and Mathilde, who had a passionate love affair years ago. The relationship revives... A somber study of human feelings.

Release Date : 1981-09-30

Language :FrenchEnglish

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Les Films du CarrosseTF1 Films Production

Production Country : France

Alternative Titles : The Woman Next Door

Cast

Character Name : Bernard Coudray

Original Name : Gérard Depardieu

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mathilde Bauchard

Original Name : Fanny Ardant

Gender : Female

Character Name : Philippe Bauchard

Original Name : Henri Garcin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Arlette Coudray

Original Name : Michèle Baumgartner

Gender : Female

Character Name : Roland Duguet

Original Name : Roger Van Hool

Gender : Male

Character Name : Madame Odile Jouve

Original Name : Véronique Silver

Gender : Female

Character Name : Doctor

Original Name : Philippe Morier-Genoud

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Nicole Vauthier

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Muriel Combe

Gender : Male

Character Name : Thomas Coudray

Original Name : Olivier Becquaert

Gender : Male

Character Name : Woman in the Hotel's Staircase (uncredited)

Original Name : Catherine Crassac

Gender : Male

Character Name : Man in the Hotel's Staircase (uncredited)

Original Name : Jacques Preisach

Gender : Male

Character Name : Estate Agent (uncredited)

Original Name : Roland Thénot

Gender : Male

Reviews

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2024-08-07

You can just imagine the scenario. "Bernard" (Gerard Depardieu) is living quite contentedly with his wife "Arlette" (Michèle Baumgartner) and their young son when they get new next-door neighbours. "Philippe" (Henri Garcin) and wife "Mathilde" (Fanny Ardant). Well ardent might have been a more appropriate spelling as it turns out that "Bernard" and "Mathilde" have a bit of history that time hasn't quite satiated. Ostensibly, they present a friendly front to their respective families and neighbours, but we soon appreciate the things are smouldering and that events eight years ago did not end well - for either of them. With their behaviour becoming more erratic and tensions mounting, well who knows what's going to happen next. This might be my favourite Depardieu performance as he really does thrown himself into the role body and soul, and with Ardant delivering an equally impassioned characterisation we are presented with a lively, tempestuous and at times quite visceral series of scenes as things spiral out of control. I'm not always a fan of narration but here, the sparing use of commentary from local tennis club boss "Madame Jouve" (Véronique Silver) helps fill in the gaps but also lets off some of the steam - physically and metaphorically, as the story becomes more involved. Talk about neighbours from hell...!