The Film: Behold the dawn of the French New Wave in this astounding study of a man revisiting his rural hometown, only to find misery encapsulated in his old friend (the titular Serge, played by Gérard Blain ) who is now a grieving drunk. Jean-Claude Brialy's stone-faced lead is the eyes of director Claude Chabrol's picture, but it's Blain that is the pickled heart and sorrow. Chabrol's eye for realism and the most human of drama makes for unflinching viewing. Classic Moment: A wheezing and beaten up François drags a legless Serge through the bitter cold to bring him home to his wife, who is deep in the throes of labour, before collapsing on the floor. With sacrifice comes birth and as the camera lingers on Serge's face one of cinema's most affecting curtain closing images is born.
Shaun is a former contributor for a number of Future Publishing titles and more recently worked as a staffer at Imagine Publishing.
He can now be found banking in the daytime and writing a variety of articles for What Culture, namely around his favourite topics of film, retro gaming, music, TV and, when he's feeling clever, literature.
