Sexual Chronicles of a French Family

2012 1h 25m FR

😐

5.4

MID

★5.4TMDB · 412

ComedyDramaRomance

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Three generations of a French family open up about their sexual experiences and desires after young Romain is caught masturbating in his biology class.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Mathias Melloul
Romain
Valérie Maës
Claire
Stephan Hersoen
Hervé
Pierre Perrier
Maxime
Yan Brian
Michel
Adeline Rebeillard
Coralie
Leïla Denio
Marie
Gregory Annoni
Cédric

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Jean-Marc Barr
Writers: Lucy Allwood, Pascal Arnold
Languages: French
Countries: France

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 6

RUNTIME

Did you know

85 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 6

ERA

Did you know

Released 14 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Jean-Marc Barr, shot by Jean-Marc Barr. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Jean-Marc Barr shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 6

CAST

Did you know

Mathias Melloul and Valérie Maës and Stephan Hersoen carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 6

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt1753584 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Jean-Marc Barr directs. Jean-Marc Barr behind the camera. Jean-Marc Barr cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in France. Dialogue in French.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

185 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
2Released 14 years ago.
3Directed by Jean-Marc Barr, shot by Jean-Marc Barr. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Editor Jean-Marc Barr shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Mathias Melloul and Valérie Maës and Stephan Hersoen carry the top of the cast.
6IMDB entry: tt1753584 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
7Classified under 13 themes, including "virgin", "husband wife relationship", "sexual frustration", "parent child relationship".
8Released under 14 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography: Jean-Marc Barr
Editing: Jean-Marc Barr
Costume design: Mimi Lempicka
Makeup / hair: Aude Réant
Runtime: 85 min · 1h 25m
Status: Released
Original language: FR
Certification (US): NR
IMDB: Sexual Chronicles of a French Family (2012)

Also by

Jean-Marc Barr

Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

tmdb152146182018-05-03
★ 4/10
There's a lot of humour and heart here when people are talking to each other. Unfortunately, that's not often. Instead, we're treated to many boring sex scenes. It's still worth watching for the third of it that isn't porn.
Martin Oaks2026-01-19
★ 7/10
Sex as a hymn to life and love Above all, we must not forget that "Chroniques sexuelles d'une famille d'aujourd'hui" is an authentic visual poem, a delightful celebration of the concept of freedom in general and intimate autonomy in particular. It is a work that exalts life in its most instinctive facet and, at the same time, constitutes a great example of a narrative about civilization. Even in its most explicit moments, the film is an essential recommendation for those looking for cinema that combines thematic and visual audacity with a genuine tenderness toward its characters. It is a refreshing and deeply humanistic proposal that manages to strip sex of its recurring burden of tragedy and shame, returning it to the realm of daily life and love. The routine of the Larivière family is momentarily disrupted when Romain, the youngest son, is caught in math class recording an inappropriate video as part of a dare among his classmates. After consulting with his mother, and far from turning into the dark and shameful drama that the premise initially suggests, the situation acts as a narrative catalyst for each family member to explore and confront their own desires, sexual curiosities, and taboos. Through an almost episodic structure, the film portrays, with an enviable naturalness, various erotic encounters and awakenings. In this way, it normalizes sexuality as an integral element of human communication and growth within a modern and liberated French family. An honest hymn to progress and disinhibition.