Les petites fugues
| Les petites fugues | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Yves Yersin |
| Written by | Yves Yersin Claude Muret |
| Produced by | Robert Boner |
| Starring | Michel Robin |
| Cinematography | Robert Alazraki |
| Edited by | Yves Yersin |
| Music by | Léon Francioli Guillermo Villegas |
Production company | Filmkollektiv Zürich AG |
Release date |
|
Running time | 145 minutes |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Language | French |
Les petites fugues is a 1979 Swiss film directed by Yves Yersin and written by Yersin and Claude Muret. Starring Michel Robin, it follows an ageing farmhand whose purchase of a moped opens up a new sense of freedom. The film premiered in February 1979, competed in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1979 Cannes Film Festival, and earned Robin the International Jury Prize at the 1979 Locarno Film Festival.[1][2][3]
Synopsis
After reaching retirement age, Pipe, a farmhand who has spent 30 years working for the Duperrex family, buys a moped with his pension and begins exploring the surrounding countryside. After a drunken outing leads to a minor accident and the loss of his licence, he turns to photography and begins looking at the world around him through the lens of a Polaroid camera.[4]
Cast
The cast includes:[4]
- Michel Robin as Pipe
- Fabienne Barraud as Josiane
- Fred Personne as Duperrex
- Dore De Rosa as Luigi
- Mista Préchac as Rose Duperrex
- Laurent Sandoz as Alain
- Nicole Vautier as Marianne
Reception
Awards and nominations
At the 1979 Locarno Film Festival, Michel Robin won the International Jury Prize for his performance as Pipe.[2]
Critical response
In a 2024 retrospective review, Neue Zürcher Zeitung viewed the film negatively, while praising Michel Robin’s performance.[5] Filmdienst called the film an original debut feature that depicts a process of self-liberation in a measured, poetic and cheerful manner.[6] Filmpodium cited Reclams Filmführer, which described the film as “a quiet but very intense film” and “simultaneously an astute analysis”.[4]
Neue Zürcher Zeitung wrote that the film drew 424,505 admissions in Switzerland in 1979, making it one of the most successful Swiss productions.[5] Swissinfo described the film as one of the most successful Swiss films of all time.[7]
Festival screenings
The film premiered in February 1979.[1] It competed in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1979 Cannes Film Festival.[3] In later years, it was screened at festivals including the 50th Solothurn Film Festival in 2015, the Festival international du film francophone de Namur in 2000, Festival du film de Genève, Stars de Demain in 1997, and the Festival des premiers films in 1995.[1]
See also
References
- 1 2 3 "Les petites fugues". Swiss Films (in German). Retrieved 20 April 2026.
- 1 2 "32nd Locarno Film Festival". Locarno Film Festival. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
- 1 2 "Les petites fugues". Festival de Cannes (in French). Retrieved 20 April 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Les petites fugues". Filmpodium (in German). Retrieved 20 April 2026.
- 1 2 "«Les petites fugues»: Warum ist das ein Klassiker?". Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in German). 10 February 2024. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
- ↑ "Kleine Fluchten". Filmdienst (in German). Retrieved 20 April 2026.
- ↑ "Filmregisseur Yves Yersin im Alter von 76 Jahren gestorben". SWI swissinfo (in German). 19 November 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2026.