Macadam Stories

2015 1h 40m FR

👍

6.8

SOLID

★6.8TMDB · 201

DramaComedy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Improbable encounters bring tenderness, laughter and compassion to a world of urban alienation.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Where to watch · US

Cast

Isabelle Huppert
Jeanne Meyer
Gustave Kervern
Sterkowitz
Tassadit Mandi
Madame Hamida
Jules Benchetrit
Charly
Michael Pitt
John McKenzie
Valeria Bruni Tedeschi
L'infirmière
Mickaël Graehling
Dédé
Larouci Didi
Mouloud

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Samuel Benchetrit
Writers: Samuel Benchetrit, Gábor Rassov
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

ERA

Did you know

Released 11 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Samuel Benchetrit, shot by Pierre Aïm. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Raphaël. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Thomas Fernandez 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

Isabelle Huppert and Gustave Kervern and Tassadit Mandi carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 6

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt4357368 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Samuel Benchetrit directs. Pierre Aïm behind the camera. Raphaël scores. Thomas Fernandez cuts. Produced in France. Dialogue in French.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 11 years ago.
2Directed by Samuel Benchetrit, shot by Pierre Aïm. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Raphaël. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Thomas Fernandez shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Isabelle Huppert and Gustave Kervern and Tassadit Mandi carry the top of the cast.
6IMDB entry: tt4357368 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Pierre Aïm
Original score: Raphaël
Editing: Thomas Fernandez
Production design: Jean Moulin
Costume design: Mimi Lempicka
Makeup / hair: Corinne Maillard
Sound: Julien Perez
Runtime: 100 min · 1h 40m
Status: Released
Original language: FR
Certification (US): 12
IMDB: Macadam Stories (2015)

Also by

Samuel Benchetrit

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

Reno2018-02-04
★ 7/10
Tales from an old apartment building! A little multi-layered French comedy. The making was not unusual, but the storyline was. Based on the autobiography of the director. There could be more to come, so a sequel is possible like the Roy Andersson's 'Living' trilogy. There was similarity is style of storytelling, yet it was more clear on what it narrated for us. I'm not sure of the timeline, but it seems at least 10-20 years back. Guessing it with the settings. It was about the lives in an apartment building. Divided into three layers, the first one was about a man living on the second floor who never uses the elevator. But the time comes for him without other options. He meets a nurse in her break and befriends. So it continues for days. On the second tale, an American astronaut becomes a guest in one of the residences where an old immigrant lady lives. Coming to the third and final, a teenage boy meets an actress who recently moved in to the next door. Their's friendship growing despite the generation gap was focused on. How all these tales begins and ends were the fun to watch. -xX] It's weird to see you in the film. It's like you're a different person, from another life. [Xx- From all, Isabelle Huppert's presence made my curiosity about the film. She's the one who played an aging actress, I think she was good. Everybody else as well, quite good. Because it was not a high budget sci-fi film. But about individuals. Their lifestyle, profession and looking for something anew in life. So that's what makes the story, when they meet different people out of their normal surroundings. Each character was distinctive. So it was hard to predict the outcome, yet feels so close to familiarity with everything that happened. Not a straight comedy, it was more of a black-comedy. Though some parts were sensible. The blend of life drama and comedy with the wonderful performances lifted the film. Michael Pitt was the other familiar face in it. They kind of made fun of the American space agency, while the Hollywood acknowledging with super higher end products. So, this is like another under-noticed film. But it is not like deserves major attention, except if you a cinephile. Other than that if you want to try it, then you should too. It surely won't disappoint. People hunt films with big names, but such small films like this can deliver somewhat better than those big flicks. I was a little late to watch it, in the end, I'm happy I did it. Now I want to spread the word, that it is definitely not an ignorable title for those who haven't heard about it. So thumbs up! 7/10

Production companies