'' Death in a French Garden '' (french: Péril en la demeure) is a 1985 French

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super- ...

directed by Michel Deville. It was entered into the

35th Berlin International Film Festival The 35th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 15 to 26 February 1985. The Golden Bear was awarded to East German film '' Die Frau und der Fremde'' directed by Rainer Simon and British film ''Wetherby'' directed by David Har ...

Plot

David Aurphet, a struggling guitar teacher, is invited to give lessons to Viviane Tombsthay, the daughter of a well-to-do couple. The wife, Julia, commences an affair with him while Viviane and a neighbour, Edwige, proposition him. Later, David is robbed but is rescued by a stranger, Daniel Forest, whom he has seen hanging around near the Tombsthay's property. Daniel admits to being a contract killer who is on a job and suggests that the robbery is a cover for someone who wishes to injure David's hand, such as a jealous husband. David receives an anonymous video tape with evidence of his affair; Julia says she has received one, too. He tells Edwige about the video but not about Julia. After he finds that someone has been at his house, he asks Daniel to stay overnight just in case. Julia appears and invites David to her home as her husband is away. After she leaves, Daniel tells David that Julia's husband, Graham, is his intended target. He warns David to be wary of Graham and suggest he avoids Julia for a while. When David refuses, Daniel gives him a hand gun for protection. David arrives but finds Graham there wanting to kill him. David shoots him. Julia advises David to leave and he seeks refuge with Edwige. She shows him a video that shows that he only injured Graham, who was later killed by Julia. David is later threatened by Daniel over some missing microfilm. David kills him and leaves the area with Viviane.

Cast

Anémone Anne Bourguignon (; 9 August 1950 – 30 April 2019), known professionally as Anémone (), was a French actress, filmmaker and political activist. She took her stage name in 1968 from the title of her film debut in Philippe Garrel's ''Anémone' ...

as Edwige Ledieu * Richard Bohringer as Daniel Forest *

Nicole Garcia Nicole Garcia (born 22 April 1946) is a French actress, film director and screenwriter. Her film ''Charlie Says (2006 film), Charlie Says'' was entered into the 2006 Cannes Film Festival. Her film ''Going Away'' was screened in the Special Prese ...

as Julia Tombsthay *

Christophe Malavoy Christophe Malavoy (born 21 March 1952 in Reutlingen Reutlingen (; Swabian: ''Reitlenga'') is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is the capital of the eponymous district of Reutlingen. As of June 2018, it has a population of 115,818. ...

as David Aurphet *

Michel Piccoli Jacques Daniel Michel Piccoli (27 December 1925 – 12 May 2020) was a French actor, producer and film director with a career spanning 70 years. He was lauded as one of the greatest French character actors of his generation who played a wide vari ...

as Graham Tombsthay * Anaïs Jeanneret as Vivianne Tombsthay * Jean-Claude Jay as Father *

Hélène Roussel Hélène Roussel, stage name of Yvonne Louise Gabrielle Roussel, (2 September 1932 – 5 December 2022) was a French actress. She was the sister of actress Michèle Morgan and the wife of actor . Roussel died on 5 December 2022, at the age of ...

as Mother *

Franck de la Personne Franck Lapersonne (a.k.a. Franck de la Personne) (born 29 October 1963) is a French comedian, actor theatre director, and political candidate. Personal life Franck de la Personne is the son of Jacques Lapersonne and Jacqueline Charlotte Poinson. ...

as Guitar dealer * Élisabeth Vitali as Waitress * Daniel Vérité as Attacker

References

External links

* 1985 films 1985 drama films 1980s French-language films French drama films Films directed by Michel Deville Adultery in films Gaumont Film Company films Films whose director won the Best Director César Award 1980s French films {{1980s-France-film-stub