An Air So Pure

1997 1h 47m FR

😐

5.9

MID

★5.9TMDB · 7

ComedyDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In the midst of WW I, a doctor and a lawyer team up to turn a ramshackle old mountain chateau into a sanatorium/health spa that caters to the afflicted from most every stratum of European society, most of whom show up with false hope in their hearts and plenty of equally false identities. Even the proprietors have a few deceptions, chief among them is the part of the resort where they provide shelter for dying and horribly maimed soldiers. Still the atmosphere of this high-class convalescent home is that of great gentility that thinly disguises the seaminess of the guests' secret activities. Though much of the film is a quirky comedy, tragedy comes creeping in when people begin dying of unnatural causes, and not even the pure mountain air can save the owners and the residents.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Fabrice Luchini
Magnus
André Dussollier
Dr. Boyer
Marie Gillain
Julie d'Espard
Redjep Mitrovitsa
Moss
Emmanuelle Laborit
Mathilde
Yolande Moreau
Laure Surville
Jacques Boudet
Elmer
Jerzy Radziwiłowicz
Daniel

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Yves Angelo
Writers: Yves Angelo
Languages: French
Countries: Belgium, France, Poland

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

ERA

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 3 countries: Belgium, France, Poland.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Yves Angelo, shot by Edward Kłosiński. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Fabrice Luchini and André Dussollier and Marie Gillain carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0119853 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 7 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Yves Angelo directs. Edward Kłosiński behind the camera. Joanna Bruzdowicz scores. Thierry Derocles cuts. Produced in Belgium, France, Poland. Dialogue in French.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

129 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2International production across 3 countries: Belgium, France, Poland.
3Directed by Yves Angelo, shot by Edward Kłosiński. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Joanna Bruzdowicz. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Thierry Derocles shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Fabrice Luchini and André Dussollier and Marie Gillain carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0119853 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 7 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.