Whenever people are released from their society's constraints, there is the possibility that they will behave badly, at least according to the rules of the society they have left behind. This seems to have been particularly the case for Europeans living in colonial establishments in Africa and Asia. In this drama, based on a story by Stefan Zweig, Dr. Steiner (Andrzej Seweryn) was caught with his fingers in the till at a German hospital. Rather than prosecute him, they gave him the option of emigrating elsewhere. He chose to serve at a clinic in a remote part of Portuguese Goa. He has been on his best behavior for years, but when the beautiful wife (Fanny Ardant) of a diplomat comes to him asking for an abortion, he is tempted to ask for sexual favors in return, and his life swiftly goes out of control.
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Cast
9 people
Fanny Ardant
She
Known for
8 Women
La Belle Époque
Sonja Kirchberger
Mistress Munich
Known for
The Vexxer
Andrzej Seweryn
Steiner
Known for
Schindler's List
The Mire
Bernard Le Coq
The traveler
Known for
Caché
Joyeux Noel
Joaquim de Almeida
The lover
Known for
Warrior Nun
Desperado
Henrique Viana
the surgeon
Also in
Recollections of the Yellow House
Doomed Love
António Victorino de Almeida
the governor
Also in
Your Neighbour's Wife
Pandora
Joachim Wörmsdorf
the husband
Also in
Das Verkehrsgericht
Anang Desai
the chauffeur
Known for
Tere Naam
Rustom
Joël Farges Director · Dominique Rousset Writer Catherine Foussadier Writer
First release October 9, 1993 · Produced in France, Germany, Portugal · Languages French, German
Production
AB Films
Production
MGN Filmes
Production
NEF Filmproduktion & Vertrieb (I)
Production
CNC
Production
Instituto Português de Cinema (IPC)
Production
Sofica Investimage 4
Production
Sofinergie 2
Production
Canal+
Production
France · Germany · Portugal
Produced in
Languages
Original language
French
Spoken on screen
French · German
Release dates
France · October 9, 1993
Theatrical
No release date listed for United States.
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Some details come from TheTVDB.