Chronicle of a Summer

"The first film of cinéma vérité"

1961 1h 31m FR

👍

7.2

SOLID

⭐

7.5

IMDB

★7.2TMDB · 122★7.5IMDB · 3,716

Documentary

Synopsis

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Paris, summer 1960. Anthropologist and filmmaker Jean Rouch and sociologist and film critic Edgar Morin wander through the crowded streets asking passersby how they cope with life's misfortunes.

“The first film of cinéma vérité”

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Cast

Edgar Morin
Self
Jean Rouch
Self
Marceline Loridan-Ivens
Self
Marilù Parolini
Self
Jean-Pierre Sergent
Self
Régis Debray
Self
Nadine Ballot
Self
Modeste Landry
Self

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Jean Rouch
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.

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Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

65 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

CRAFT

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Jean Rouch, shot by Michel Brault. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Edgar Morin and Jean Rouch and Marceline Loridan-Ivens carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "The first film of cinéma vérité".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0054745 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Jean Rouch directs. Michel Brault behind the camera. Françoise Collin cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in France. Dialogue in French.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

165 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
3Directed by Jean Rouch, shot by Michel Brault. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Editor Françoise Collin shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Edgar Morin and Jean Rouch and Marceline Loridan-Ivens carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "The first film of cinéma vérité".
7IMDB entry: tt0054745 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Classified under 16 themes, including "friendship", "paris, france", "cinema on cinema", "saint-tropez, france".
9Released under 10 different titles around the world.