Gervaise (1956)

7.4112 minDirector: René Clément

1956 French film

Gervaise (French pronunciation: [ʒɛʁ.vɛz]) is a 1956 French historical drama film directed by René Clément based on the 1877 novel L'Assommoir by Émile Zola. It depicts a working-class woman in the mid-nineteenth century (played by Maria Schell) trying to cope with the descent of her husband (played by François Périer) into alcoholism.

The film was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 29th Academy Awards. Schell won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress at the 1956 Venice Film Festival for her performance; Périer won the 1957 BAFTA Best Actor for his performance; and the film itself won the 1957 BAFTA Best Film award.

Plot summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

FAQ

What is Gervaise about?
Gervaise (1956) — Gervaise Macquart, a young lame laundress, is left by her lover Auguste Lantier with two boys... She manages to make it, and a few years later she marries Coupeau, a roofer. After working very hard a few more years, she succeeds in buying her own laundry (her dream)... But Coupea
Is Gervaise based on a true story?
See the production background and source material details on the official Wikipedia article.
Is Gervaise scary?
Content rating: . See the reviews tab for parental guidance and tone notes.
What is Gervaise (1956) about? Plot, synopsis and ending explained — Screencodex