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Picnic on the Grass
Picnic on the Grass
7.4
/10
1,109 Ratings

PICNIC ON THE GRASS

Le déjeuner sur l'herbe

Directed by Jean Renoir
France, 1959
Comedy, Romance

Synopsis

Etienne Alexis, a candidate for the presidency of the new Europe, is a pompous scientist promoting artificial insemination. However, while hosting a picnic, he encounters a young, modern peasant woman, Nénette, and learns that science sometimes does not have all the answers.

Synopsis

Etienne Alexis, a candidate for the presidency of the new Europe, is a pompous scientist promoting artificial insemination. However, while hosting a picnic, he encounters a young, modern peasant woman, Nénette, and learns that science sometimes does not have all the answers.

Our take

Recalling the sun-swept pastoral scenes of his father’s paintings, this late work by Jean Renoir turned his focus to the dichotomy between science and the forces of nature. A deeply personal drama from one of cinema’s finest filmmakers reaching the logical conclusion of his artistic project.