Hard Off

1999 1h 40m FR

💀

3.6

SKIP

★3.6TMDB · 10

RomanceComedy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

This French romantic comedy-drama concerns Claude Langmann, a middle-aged auctioneer, who is in a loving marriage with his second wife of 15 years. Though he is deeply in love with his wife and has remained faithful to her, he finds himself unable to perform in bed. His wife says she is satisfied with Claude's love and tenderness, but he visits a sex specialist anyway. There he learns of Viagra, which is not yet approved in France, though it is available in Switzerland over the counter. Soon Claude is on his way to Geneva, and eager to prove his manhood, tries to bed Agnes, his very attractive and very available assistant. His daughter, who also comes along for the trip, interferes with her own problems.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Claude Berri
Claude Langmann
Fanny Ardant
Marie Langmann, épouse de Claude
Claude Brasseur
Paul-Édouard
Alain Chabat
Le gynécologue et andologue
Danièle Lebrun
Myriam, ex-femme de Paul-Édouard
Véronique Vella
Julie, entraîneuse
Brigitte Bémol
Agnès
François Berléand
Le docteur Nataf

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Claude Berri
Writers: Claude Berri, Tonino Benacquista, Arlette Langmann
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 / 8

ERA

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "Claude Langmann Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Claude Berri, shot by William Lubtchansky. 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 Bruno Coulais. 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 Hervé de Luze 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

Claude Berri and Fanny Ardant and Claude Brasseur carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0211344 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 10 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Claude Berri directs. William Lubtchansky behind the camera. Bruno Coulais scores. Hervé de Luze cuts. Produced in France. Dialogue in French.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

127 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Part of the "Claude Langmann Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
3Directed by Claude Berri, shot by William Lubtchansky. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Bruno Coulais. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Hervé de Luze shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Claude Berri and Fanny Ardant and Claude Brasseur carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0211344 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 10 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.