L'Argent

Name: L'Argent
Genre: Drama, Crime
Released: March 23, 1984
Duration: 85 min
Rating: 95
Cast: Christian Patey, Michel Briguet, Sylvie Van den Elsen

1984

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 6 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 16 Ratings

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7.3

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7.3	Your Score
7.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 16 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Cinecom Pictures | Release Date: March 23, 1984 | Not Rated

Starring: Christian Patey, Michel Briguet, Sylvie Van den Elsen

Summary: A forged 500-franc note is cynically passed from person to person and shop to shop, until it falls into the hands of a genuine innocent who doesn't see it for what it is - which will have devastating consequences on his life, causing him to turn to crime and murder.

Director: Robert Bresson

Genre(s): Drama, Crime

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 85 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Eric Henderson

Robert Bresson's film hits with the effect not so much reflecting a cleansing of the soul, but rather a ransacking. Read full review

100

David Ansen

Constructing a work of implacably interlocking images, the 76-year-old director -- as clear-eyed, still and attentive as a beast of the forest observing human folly -- has produced an Olympian protest against the modern world. Yet his lucid mastery produces not despair, but an odd exhilaration. [16 April 1984, p.93]

100

David Sterritt

Every shot plays a part in the director's underlying scheme - to probe the actual and symbolic roles of money in society, and grander yet, to explore the relationship between matters of the flesh and the human spirit, as manifested by the struggle between aspiration and corruption. [22 March 1984, p.21]

Vincent Canby

It goes beyond the impartiality of journalism. It has the manner of an official report on the spiritual state of a civilization for which there is no hope. Read full review

Carole Corbeil

There is no psychology in L'Argent, no acting to speak of; every scene is a minimal sketch which drives the didactic story forward. This use of narrative may sound ordinary, but, in Robert Bresson's pure filmmaking, it becomes extraordinarily relentless. [20 July 1984]

Empire David Parkinson

Compelling morality tale that works on multiple layers. Read full review

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User Reviews

Tuneison

Aug 13, 2018

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. L'argent is, at times, at deeply challenging and rewarding film. The opening of the film is almost a misdirection and don't let it sway your opinion in terms of what you think the film will become because I can see your expectations leading you to dislike it. In fact some of the earlier commentary presented in the film is pretty stupid and obvious, like Paths of Glory obvious. However, if you do not trap yourself in that pitfall, then L'argent will be a very gripping and interesting film.
The film presents the trappings that humans create for themselves. This is in the form of the old woman at the end of the film who is trapped by her family, a working class man who frequents jail but, both inside and out of jail, he is still trapped by his inability to work or find work. That's at least what I got from the first viewing but there is for sure more to be unpacked within the film. It is a fantastic film by Bresson and, I absolutely recommend it. I mean this is a spoiler review but, you might just be an edge lord who just read the review, I don't know. And even if you have watched it, watch it again, it's fantastic.… Expand

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