Le Déjeuner sur l'Herbe (Picnic on the Grass) (1959)
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71% of critics liked it
(7 reviews) -
47% of users liked it
(70 ratings)
Jean Renoir never made any secret that Picnic on the Grass (Le Dejeuner sur L'Herbe) was inspired by the impressionist paintings of his father Auguste Renoir, and also of Edouard Monet. The near-surrealistic plotline concerns priggish US presidential candidate Paul Meurisse, who carries on a… More Jean Renoir never made any secret that Picnic on the Grass (Le Dejeuner sur L'Herbe) was inspired by the impressionist paintings of his father Auguste Renoir, and also of Edouard Monet. The near-surrealistic plotline concerns priggish US presidential candidate Paul Meurisse, who carries on a sterile, clinical courtship with Ingrid Nordine. Proposing that he and Nordine have an image-boosting "picnic on the grass", the scientifically-oriented Meurisse is distracted by the visceral charms of country girl Catherine Rouvel. Previously a strong advocate of "artificial sex", Meurisse changes his mind after dallying with the lusty Rouvel. Almost childlike in its approach to the material at hand, Picnic on the Grass is one of Renoir's most playful efforts. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Jean Renoir
- Genres
- Romance, Art House & International, Comedy
PG,
- In Theaters
- Nov 11, 1959 Wide
- On DVD
- Feb 11, 1991
Critic Reviews
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, Time Out
Again and again, sumptuous photography collapses into cold argument.
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Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Renoir manages to inject an uncommon amount of feeling into all the frivolity and whimsy; the results are both absurdist and sublime.
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Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
An impressionistic incantation, an air-filled home movie by Renoir
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, TV Guide's Movie Guide
One of director Jean Renoir's oddest films, Picnic On The Grass is visually influenced by the Impressionist paintings of his father, Auguste Renoir, and Edouard Manet, but its plot could almost be considered science fiction.
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, Film4
[A] rather reactionary and ponderous satire on modern society.
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…
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Cast
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Paul Meurisse
as Etienne
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Catherine Rouvel
as Nanette
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Jean-Pierre Granval
as Ritou
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Fernand Sardou
as Nino
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Micheline Gary
as Madeleine
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Jean Claudio
as Rousseau
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Charles Blavette
as Gaspard
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Andre Brunot
as Old Curate
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Marguerite Cassan
as Mme. Paignant
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Robert Chandeau
as Laurent
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Paulette Dubost
as Mlle. Forestier
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Hélène Duc
as Isabelle
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Ghislaine Dumont
as Magda
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Raymond Jourdan
as Eustache
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Jacqueline Morane
as Titine
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Ingiid Nordine
as Marie-Charlotte
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Frederick O'Brady
as Rudolf
