It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

Watch something else. There are very few redeeming qualities to this film.

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.

This is hardly what you would call a film of action, in fact all the director could muster was a couple of shots from a pistol resulting in one dead moggie ! No, it's a film destined to a limited audience, and, even worse, is pessimistic and gloomy. A bit of a shame because Pierre Granier-Deferre has produced some more interesting stuff than this. However, it is watchable if you like the main actors, Jean Gabin and Simone Signoret, which I do. Their performance ( and the cat's ) makes the film just about watchable. Jean Gabin and Simone Signoret's couple has been flagging for a while, he does not love her any more and gives all his affection to this famous cat, whilst SS is getting more and more irate....alors, ce qui devait arriver, arriva .... she shoots the cat ! The gloominess of the film is compounded by the fact that they live in a neighbourhood which is gradually being demolished day by day to make place for high rise blocks, and their old house stands out like a sore thumb amongst the ruins. There is little human dialogue in the film ( but Gabin does seek some solace from a neighbour lady friend ), there is some slow-motion cat dancing on scaffolding and various futile attempts by Signoret to start conversation. In summary, it is well acted, these two are "monstres sacrés" from French cinema so I think the film is worth watching for their performance. If I am not mistaken it was made in the western Paris suburbs, either near Colombes or the Courbevoie/Puteaux area which has been transformed into La Défense business complex. For this reason alone the film is an interesting record of a long demolished area of the Paris suburbs. Also on the positive side, picture and sound quality are excellent.

A critic whose name I forgot wrote:"imagine that in "le jour se lève" (1939),Jean Gabin did not die;he would have married Jacqueline Laurent and what would have become of them?Probably what Granier-Deferre shows in his movie (adapted from Georges Simenon)".It's a harsh cruel ruthless effort:daily life ,routine,humdrum,a love worn away by time have destroyed everything."Wounds have burst open,and corridors rust/Once proud and truthful,now humble and bent/Fires which burnt brightly,now energies spent"(Keith Reid) These two former lovers have become the worst enemies;Gabin has transferred his affection to a pet,and Signoret cannot stand it.Around them,wrecking balls are destroying all the old houses,it's a transparent metaphor ;their world is crumbling and they know it.The second part,when Gabin stops talking to his wife and writes her notes to communicate is downright depressing.And however,the ending will show that even after floating on an ocean of mud,love ,or something which looks like love, survives.

doubtless one of the best movies by granier-deferre and the acting is superb. so is the interplay of montage, photography and music. all throughout the running time everything is handled with great care and sophistication. a must-see if you like french drama. but take care: you're going to watch an extremely dark and pessimistic film. there's no light, there's no hope. nowhere.

This started as a Georges Simenon story, and is typically brutal about human relationships. I like it so because of the performances of Gabin & Signoret - they were as good as you can get, and here are at the top of their powers. Either of them would have blown anybody else I can think of off the screen. Excellent, if very French.