Head Against the Wall (La Tete contre les murs) (1958)
-
14% want to see it
(119 ratings)
La Tete Contre Les Muirs (U.S. title: The Keepers) was director Georges Franju's 2nd cinematic offering for 1958, and his first purely fictional film. Franju's prior training in documentaries helps to bring a veneer of reality to this harrowing glimpse within the walls of an insane asylum.… More La Tete Contre Les Muirs (U.S. title: The Keepers) was director Georges Franju's 2nd cinematic offering for 1958, and his first purely fictional film. Franju's prior training in documentaries helps to bring a veneer of reality to this harrowing glimpse within the walls of an insane asylum. Pierre Brasseur plays Marbeau, a traditionalist "head doctor" who takes on the case of young Francois (Jean-Paul Mocky). Though not really insane, Francois has been institutionalized for daring to defy his wealthy father. The story is told from Francois' point of view, as he teeters on the edge of madness during his involuntary internment. The film is essentially a plea for more sensible treatment of the mentally disturbed and the emotionally distressed, calling for much-needed widespread reforms -- something that, alas, was not readily forthcoming in the late 1950s. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Neus Viala, Georges Franju
- Written By
- Herve Bazin, Jean-Pierre Mocky
- Genres
- Documentary, Drama, Art House & International
Unrated,
- Studio
- Les Films Sirius
Critic Reviews
-
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Harrowing look at a psychiatric hospital and how it fails those who are treatable.
-
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
An exposé out of Kafka and Foucault
-
Anton Bitel, Little White Lies
commenting on the difficult dynamic between freedom and control within any system... it is an important missing link between the cinéma du papa and the emerging nouvelle vague
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
No Featured Audience Ratings Found…
Currently unavailable on Flixster
Also available on
Other Retailers
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Subscription Services
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Cast
-
Pierre Brasseur
as Marbeau
-
Paul Meurisse
as Emery
-
Jean-Pierre Mocky
as Francois
- Anouk Aimée
-
Charles Aznavour
as Sailor
-
Jean Galland
as Gerane
- Luc Andrieux
- Claude Badolle
-
Thomy Bourdelle
as Cornel Donadieu
- Claude Castaing
- Claude Mansard
-
Jean Ozenne
as Comte de Chambrelle
- Henri Poirier
- Jean Rougerie
-
Edith Scob
as Patient
- André Thorent
- Pierre Mirat
- Jacques Seiler
- Roger Legris
- Rudy Lenoir
- Raoul Marco
- Max Montavon
