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Thank You, Life (1991)

Thank You, Life (1991), directed by Bertrand Blier, starring Charlotte Gainsbourg and Anouk Grinberg.

03/13/1991 BR Drama 1h 57m

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Synopsis

Camille, a naïve schoolgirl, meets an intriguing influence in Joelle, a slightly older and much more experienced spirit. Camille follows her new friend through the discovery of sex and the darker side of life. As the film progresses, Camille discovers AIDS and the fear that she may have picked up the disease in her early encounters.

  • Philippe RousselotCinematography
  • Bertrand BlierDirector, Screenplay
  • Claudine MerlinEditing
  • Jean-Louis LiviProducer

About the film

Merci la vie (English: "Thank You, Life") is a 1991 French film written and directed by Bertrand Blier. It won the César Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, and was nominated for Best Film, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay or Adaptation and Best Editing.

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Merci la vie (English: "Thank You, Life") is a 1991 French film written and directed by Bertrand Blier. It won the César Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, and was nominated for Best Film, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay or Adaptation and Best Editing.

Plot

Naive schoolgirl Camille Pelleveau meets the slightly older and more experienced Joëlle, a promiscuous woman who has just been thrown out of a car by her abusive boyfriend. Camille follows Joëlle as they go on a rampage where she discovers sex as they pick up men. Joëlle also shows Camille the darker side of life, as they start by crashing the men's cars and then decide to take on the whole town. However, medical researcher Dr. Marc Antoine Worms has invented a sexually transmitted disease and used Joëlle as a guinea pig by infecting her with it, so that he could become famous as the discoverer of its cure. Camille eventually learns about AIDS and fears she may have contracted the disease.

The story involves flashbacks, and in one sequence we learn that Camille's parents are feuding. Illogically, she tries to persuade them to reunite long enough for her conception to take place. The surreal plot and series of stylized scenes is in keeping with postmodern cinema, which challenges the notion of original creative thought.

Cast

Charlotte Gainsbourg as Camille Pelleveau

Anouk Grinberg as Joëlle

Michel Blanc as Raymond Pelleveau (Young Father)

Jean Carmet as Raymond Pelleveau (Old Father)

Annie Girardot as Evangéline Pelleveau (Old Mother)

Catherine Jacob as Evangéline Pelleveau (Young Mother)

Jean-Louis Trintignant as SS Officer

Thierry Frémont as François

Gérard Depardieu as Doctor Marc Antoine Worms

François Perrot as Maurice

Yves Rénier as Robert

Jacques Boudet as Craven

Laurent Gamelon as The Brother-in-Law

Anouk Ferjac as Mother in clinic

Didier Bénureau as Assistant Director

Jean-Michel Dupuis as Lorry Driver

Vincent Grass

References

External links

Merci la vie at IMDb

Merci la vie at Rotten Tomatoes

Text from Merci la vie on Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merci_la_vie

Trivia

Production

More about this film

Nominations

  • César Award for Best Actress 1992

Cast

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What is Thank You, Life about?

Thank You, Life: Camille, a naïve schoolgirl, meets an intriguing influence in Joelle, a slightly older and much more experienced spirit. Camille follows her new friend through the discovery of sex and the darker side of life. As the film progresses, Camille discovers AIDS and the fear that she may have picked up the disease in her ea…

Who directed Thank You, Life?

Thank You, Life was directed by Bertrand Blier in 1991.

Who stars in Thank You, Life?

The cast of Thank You, Life includes Charlotte Gainsbourg, Anouk Grinberg, Michel Blanc, Jean Carmet and Annie Girardot.

How long is Thank You, Life?

Thank You, Life runs for 117 minutes, or 1h57.

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Page updated on 09/12/2026.

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