A Grin Without a Cat

1977 3h 0m FR

🙌

8.0

BANGER

★8.0TMDB · 27

Documentary

Synopsis

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Chris Marker’s A Grin Without a Cat is an epic political essay tracing the rise and decline of the global left from the 1960s to the 1970s. Through archival footage and commentary, the film examines revolutionary movements in France, Latin America, and beyond, reflecting on the ideals, failures, and fading hopes of a generation.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Laurence Guvillier
Narrator (voice)
Davos Hanich
Narrator (voice)
François Maspero
Narrator (voice)
Yves Montand
Narrator (voice)
François Périer
Narrator (voice)
Sandra Scarnati
Narrator (voice)
Jorge Semprún
Narrator (voice)
Simone Signoret
Narrator (voice)

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Chris Marker
Writers: Chris Marker
Languages: French, English, Spanish
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 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

At 180 minutes, this is a three-hour-plus commitment — longer than 95% of films ever made.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 3 languages: French, English, Spanish.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Chris Marker, shot by Pierre-William Glenn. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Laurence Guvillier and Davos Hanich and François Maspero carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0076042 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Chris Marker directs. Pierre-William Glenn behind the camera. Chris Marker cuts. A long sit — settle in. Produced in France. Dialogue in French, English, Spanish.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1At 180 minutes, this is a three-hour-plus commitment — longer than 95% of films ever made.
249 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Dialogue crosses 3 languages: French, English, Spanish.
4Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
5Directed by Chris Marker, shot by Pierre-William Glenn. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Editor Chris Marker shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Laurence Guvillier and Davos Hanich and François Maspero carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt0076042 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 27 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
10Classified under 12 themes, including "1970s", "political activism", "archive footage", "social activism".