Strange Gardens

2003 1h 35m FR

👍

7.4

SOLID

★7.4TMDB · 131

ComedyDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Lucien, 14, can’t understand why his father, a serious and respected teacher, makes a fool of himself by dressing up as a clown and giving a show. André, Lucien’s father’s best friend, feels for the teenager and decides to reveal something from their mutual past that will explain the reason for Lucien’s father’s strange behavior.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Cast

Jacques Villeret
Jacques Pouzay
André Dussollier
André Designy
Thierry Lhermitte
Thierry Plaisance
Benoît Magimel
Emile Bailleul
Suzanne Flon
Marie Gerbier
Isabelle Candelier
Louise, Jacques' wife
Victor Garrivier
Félix Gerbier
Bernard Collins
Bernd

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Jean Becker
Writers: Guillaume Laurant, Jean Becker, Jean Cosmos
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 23 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Jean Becker, shot by Jean-Marie Dreujou. 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 Zbigniew Preisner. 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 Jacques Witta 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

Jacques Villeret and André Dussollier and Thierry Lhermitte carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 6

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0285052 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Jean Becker directs. Jean-Marie Dreujou behind the camera. Zbigniew Preisner scores. Jacques Witta cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in France. Dialogue in French.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 23 years ago.
2Directed by Jean Becker, shot by Jean-Marie Dreujou. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Zbigniew Preisner. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Jacques Witta shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Jacques Villeret and André Dussollier and Thierry Lhermitte carry the top of the cast.
6IMDB entry: tt0285052 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.