Water Drops on Burning Rocks

"Based on the first full-length play by R.W. Fassbender."

2000 1h 26m FR

😐

6.4

MID

★6.4TMDB · 137

DramaRomanceComedy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In 1970s Germany, Léopold, a 50-year-old businessman, picks up and seduces 20-year-old Franz, who swiftly moves into his apartment. The dynamic between them intensifies with the sudden arrival of their ex-girlfriends.

“Based on the first full-length play by R.W. Fassbender.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Bernard Giraudeau
Léopold
Malik Zidi
Franz
Ludivine Sagnier
Anna
Anna Thomson
Véra

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: François Ozon
Writers: François Ozon, Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Languages: French, German
Countries: France, Japan

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 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

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26 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: French, German.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: France, Japan.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by François Ozon, shot by Jeanne Lapoirie. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Bernard Giraudeau and Malik Zidi and Ludivine Sagnier carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

François Ozon directs. Jeanne Lapoirie behind the camera. Laurence Bawedin cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in France, Japan. Dialogue in French, German.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

186 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
226 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Dialogue crosses 2 languages: French, German.
4International production across 2 countries: France, Japan.
5Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
6Directed by François Ozon, shot by Jeanne Lapoirie. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
7Editor Laurence Bawedin shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Bernard Giraudeau and Malik Zidi and Ludivine Sagnier carry the top of the cast.
9Marketing tagline: "Based on the first full-length play by R.W. Fassbender.".
10IMDB entry: tt0211387 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
11Classified under 11 themes, including "sexual identity", "transsexuality", "sexuality", "1970s".