Buffet froid
Buffet froid (English: Cold Cuts) is a 1979 French black comedy film written and directed by Bertrand Blier, who died in 2025.[1][2] The story centers on Alphonse Tram, an isolated and unemployed man who unwittingly becomes entangled in a series of bizarre murders, including the killing of his wife, forging unlikely bonds with a disenchanted police inspector and the perpetrator in a surreal exploration of solitude and modern dehumanization.[1][3] The film features a distinguished cast led by Gérard Depardieu as Alphonse Tram, alongside Bernard Blier as the inspector and Jean Carmet as the murderer, with supporting roles by Carole Bouquet, Geneviève Page, and Michel Serrault.[1][3] Produced by Sara Films and distributed by Parafrance and UGC, it runs for 89 minutes and blends elements of absurd film noir and metaphysical thriller, eschewing conventional motivations and consequences to create a Buñuelian portrait of bourgeois malaise.[4][3] Buffet froid received critical acclaim for its offbeat screenplay, earning Bertrand Blier his first César Award for Best Original Screenplay at the 5th César Awards in 1980; it was also nominated for Best Cinematography, Best Editing, and Best Production Design.[3] The film holds a 90% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 49 reviews, praised for its deadpan humor and existential undertones, though some critics noted its deliberate absurdity could border on the frustrating.[5] It has since attained cult status in French cinema, encapsulating the pessimism of the late 1970s through its rigorously unconventional narrative.[4]Production history
Development
Bertrand Blier conceived Buffet froid as a surreal black comedy delving into the dehumanization of individuals amid contemporary urban life in Paris, blending elements of absurdity and existential isolation. The screenplay emerged from Blier's personal experiences, particularly a recurring nightmare in which he was relentlessly pursued by police, symbolizing broader anxieties of alienation and irrational violence in modern society.[6][7] Blier completed the script in just two weeks, allowing the narrative to unfold spontaneously without rigid adherence to conventional logic or structure.[8][9] The film's pre-production benefited from Blier's rising prominence following the success of his prior project, Préparez vos mouchoirs, which secured the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1978 and provided the leverage needed to obtain financing.[10] This momentum enabled the involvement of established production entities, with Alain Sarde serving as producer under the banners of Sara Films and Antenne 2 (formerly FR2).[11][12] Buffet froid represented the third and final professional collaboration between director Bertrand Blier and his father, actor Bernard Blier, culminating a series of father-son projects that began with Les Valseuses (1974) and continued through Préparez vos mouchoirs (1978); this partnership held deep personal significance for Blier, marking a poignant familial milestone before Bernard Blier's later roles in other directors' works.[13] Casting decisions were closely tied to this family dynamic, emphasizing continuity in their creative synergy.Filming
Principal photography for Buffet froid took place primarily in Paris, France, capturing the film's themes of urban isolation through its modern, often desolate settings. Key scenes were shot at the La Défense RER station, where the opening sequence unfolds in the empty metro platform to underscore the emptiness of contemporary city life.[14][15] Additional filming occurred in the Isère department, including the bridge and rowboat scene in Lavars and the cabin in the woods sequence at Le Sappey-en-Chartreuse, providing contrast to the urban environments with remote, natural backdrops. Other Paris locations included Place Salvador Allende and Créteil, further emphasizing the film's exploration of alienation in everyday spaces. Filming commenced on August 20, 1979, allowing for a swift production timeline that aligned with director Bertrand Blier's rising momentum following the success of Préparez vos mouchoirs (1978).[14][16][17] The cinematography, handled by Jean Penzer, featured stark and shadowy compositions that heightened the noir atmosphere, utilizing low-light urban shots and high-contrast visuals to evoke a sense of surreal detachment. Penzer's approach drew on his experience with atmospheric lighting in prior French films, contributing to the movie's 89-minute runtime achieved through an efficient shooting schedule. The production adopted a low-key approach, relying on the draw of its established cast including Gérard Depardieu and Bernard Blier, though specific budget figures remain unavailable in public records.[18][16][1]Narrative and characters
Plot
Buffet froid centers on Alphonse Tram, an unemployed man in his early thirties living in an isolated high-rise apartment in Paris, who becomes unwittingly entangled in a series of random and absurd murders. The story begins at the La Défense metro station late one night, where Tram chats idly with an accountant before discovering the man stabbed with Tram's own misplaced pocketknife, drawing him into a web of inexplicable events.[5][1][19] As the narrative progresses, Tram's encounters escalate in bizarre fashion: he meets the victim's distraught wife, who seeks his help; interacts with his eccentric neighbor in the otherwise empty building; and crosses paths with a philosophical police inspector investigating the crimes. These interactions unfold in a surreal, consequence-free urban world, where moral boundaries blur and actions lack traditional repercussions, parodying the conventions of crime thrillers through non-linear storytelling and dream-like sequences.[20][17][5] The film's structure builds through these increasingly absurd and disconnected episodes, emphasizing alienation in modern city life and culminating in heightened confrontations that underscore its black humor and existential undertones. Tram and the inspector serve as archetypes of profound solitude amid the chaos.[17][20]Cast
The principal cast of Buffet froid (1979) includes several prominent French actors known for their work in post-New Wave cinema, with director Bertrand Blier notably casting his father, Bernard Blier, in a key role, underscoring a familial collaboration in the production. This ensemble of performers, many of whom had ties to the innovative spirit of earlier French cinema movements, brings depth to the film's darkly comedic narrative through their portrayals of isolated and eccentric figures.[16][21]| Actor | Role | Character Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Gérard Depardieu | Alphonse Tram | The protagonist, a brooding, isolated figure central to the absurd killings.[22] |
| Bernard Blier | Inspecteur Morvandieu | A detached, intellectual cop investigating the murders with ironic detachment.[22] |
| Michel Serrault | Le comptable (The Accountant) | The initial victim, representing everyday vulnerability in the urban night; appears in an uncredited capacity in the opening scenes, adding a layer of comedic flair.[22][15] |
| Jean Carmet | Le vieil assassin (The Old Murderer) | An elderly figure entangled in the escalating events, embodying ordinary lives upended by chance encounters.[22] |
| Carole Bouquet | La jeune fille (The Young Woman) | A mysterious woman drawn into the web of events.[22] |
| Geneviève Page | Geneviève Léonard | The widow connected to one of the victims, contributing to the film's exploration of loss and absurdity.[22] |