In this complex chronicle of the evolution of a provincial family's life, the story follows three generations of at least two neighboring families from the 1890s to the 1970s. In one of many related tales, a man who was engaged to the older daughter of a farmer elopes with the younger one. After many years and the birth of five children, the man leaves his wife and family for the bright lights of the city but continues turning up from time to time, until he is finally taken into the home of one of his sons when he is a quite old man. The complex interactions of the legitimate and illegitimate children of a womanizing miner give rise to yet another set of related stories.
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Cast
36 people
Ariane Ascaride
Palmyre Blanchard-Lhomme
Known for
Once in a Lifetime
No Dogs or Italians Allowed
Yveline Ailhaud
MariePaulet-Lhomme
Known for
The Fugitives
The Hairdresser's Husband
Claude Contamine
Vincent Pinel
Leon Gravet
Also in
The Mystery of Alexina
Jean-Charles Edeline
Andrée Tainsy
Charlotte Fourcignie
Known for
Fantomas
Under the Sand
Christian Drillaud
Charles Gravet (jeune)
Also in
Once in a Lifetime
Le Cactus
Michelle Plaa
Claude Bouchery
Jules Ternolain
Also in
The Story of Paul
The Mystery of Alexina
Isabelle Caillard
Josette Dauchy (jeune)
Also in
The Story of Paul
La Femme rompue
Patrick Fierry
François Dauchy (jeune)
Known for
Pinot simple-flic
Hunter Will Get You
Véronique Silver
Josette Dauchy (40 ans)
Known for
The Woman Next Door
White Wedding
René Féret Director · Sergio Ortega Composer Jean-François Robin Cinematographer
United States release October 1, 1977 · Produced in France · Production INA, Société Française de Production (SFP)
Production
FR3
Production
INA
Production
Société Française de Production (SFP)
Production
Les Films de l'Arquebuse
Production
France 3 Cinéma
Production
Institut National de l'Audiovisuel
Production
France
Produced in
Languages
Original title
La Communion solennelle
Original language
French
Spoken on screen
French
Release dates
France · April 27, 1977
Theatrical
United States · October 1, 1977
Chicago International Film Festival
Belgium
March 9, 1978 · Gent
Canada
September 10, 1977 · Toronto Film Festival
Hungary
December 6, 1980
Portugal
March 15, 1980 · Porto Cineclube do Norte
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Some details come from TheTVDB.