The Fire Within

The Fire Within (French: Le feu follet) is a 1963 French drama film directed by Louis Malle. It is based on the novel of the same name by Pierre Drieu La Rochelle. The film stars Maurice Ronet as Alain Leroy, a recovering alcoholic at a rehabilitation clinic in Versailles who has depression. He decides to end his life, but first decides to visit his friends in Paris one last time, in an attempt at finding a reason to continue living. The movie also stars Jeanne Moreau—who had previously worked with Ronet and Malle in Elevator to the Gallows—as well as Alexandra Stewart, Bernard Noel, Lena Skerla, Hubert Deschamps and Yvonne Clech. The score features the music of Erik Satie.

Cast

• Maurice Ronet as Alain Leroy
• Léna Skerla as Lydia
• Yvonne Clech as Mademoiselle Farnoux
• Hubert Deschamps as D'Averseau
• Jean-Paul Moulinot as Dr. La Barbinais
• Mona Dol as Madame La Barbinais
• Pierre Moncorbier as Moraine
• René Dupuy as Charlie (as René Dupuis)
• Bernard Tiphaine as Milou
• Bernard Noël as Dubourg
• Ursula Kubler as Fanny
• Jeanne Moreau as Eva
• Alexandra Stewart as Solange

Reception

The film was selected as the French entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 36th Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee.^[1] In his 2006 Movie Guide, Leonard Maltin gives the film 3.5 stars (out of four) and calls it "probably Malle's best early film."^[2] Roger Ebert wrote that the film was a "triumph of style." ^[3]

See also

• List of submissions to the 36th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film
• List of French submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film

References

External links

• The Fire Within at the Internet Movie Database
• The Fire Within at Rotten Tomatoes
• The Fire Within at AllRovi
• The Fire Within, review at filmsdefrance.com