DAY FOR NIGHT

France, Italy – 1973 – Color – 116’

Dir.: François Truffaut | Scr.: François Truffaut, Jean-Louis Richard, Suzanne Schiffman | Cin.: Pierre-William Glenn | Ed.: Yann Dedet, Martine Barraqué | Mus.: Georges Delerue | Cast: Jacqueline Bisset, Valentina Cortese, Dani, Alexandra Stewart, Jean-Pierre Aumont, Jean-Pierre Léaud, François Truffaut | Prod.: Marcel Berbert

The inimitable François Truffaut masterfully blurs the boundaries between reality and fiction, directing a film that has, as its thematic core, the depiction of a film crew in Nice, France, working to complete the melodrama “Meet Pamela”. He thus creates, for the viewer’s enjoyment, a cinematic game that explores both the technical and emotional aspects of the 7th art. All the performances are excellent, especially those of Valentina Cortese as the elderly actress Severine and Jean-Pierre Léaud as the unstable Alphonse, while Georges Delerue’s lyrical soundtrack intensifies the bittersweet sense of gratitude that permeates the film.

The title, as an allegory for the cinematic transformation of reality, refers to the trick of filming during the day in order to create a nighttime effect.

Awarded with an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, BAFTA for Best Film, Best Director, Best Supporting Actress (Valentina Cortese), etc.