Muriel, or the Time of Return

1963 1h 57m FR

👍

6.9

SOLID

★6.9TMDB · 199

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In the seacoast town of Boulogne, antique furniture saleswoman Hélène lives with her stepson, Bernard, who's back from military duty in Algiers. An old lover of Hélène's comes to visit, Alphonse, with his niece Françoise; he too is back from Algiers, where he ran a café. Bernard speaks of his fiancée, Muriel, whom Hélène has not met. The past is obscured by guilt, misperceptions, and missed possibilities. Appearances deceive, things change. As Hélène and Alphonse try to sort out a renewal, everyone seems off-kilter just enough to hint that all cannot end well.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Delphine Seyrig
Hélène Aughain
Jean-Pierre Kérien
Alphonse Noyard
Jean-Baptiste Thiérrée
Bernard Aughain
Nita Klein
Françoise
Claude Sainval
Roland de Smoke
Laurence Badie
Claudie
Martine Vatel
Marie-Dominique, aka Marie-Do
Philippe Laudenbach
Robert

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Alain Resnais
Writers: Jean Cayrol, Jean Cayrol
Languages: French
Countries: Italy, France

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

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Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

63 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: Italy, France.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Alain Resnais, shot by Sacha Vierny. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Delphine Seyrig and Jean-Pierre Kérien and Jean-Baptiste Thiérrée carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0057336 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Alain Resnais directs. Sacha Vierny behind the camera. Hans Werner Henze scores. Éric Pluet cuts. Produced in Italy, France. Dialogue in French.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

163 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2International production across 2 countries: Italy, France.
3Directed by Alain Resnais, shot by Sacha Vierny. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Hans Werner Henze. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Éric Pluet shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Delphine Seyrig and Jean-Pierre Kérien and Jean-Baptiste Thiérrée carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0057336 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.