Mauvais Sang
Seen it?1986 | 119 min | Drama, Romance, Crime
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (85% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had little lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for crime-drama fans and romantics. If you loved The Panic in Needle Park or Nightmare Alley, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Dark and gritty, warm and romantic.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 59 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in French, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Two aging crooks are given two weeks to repay a debt to a woman named The American. They recruit their recently deceased partner's son to help them break into a laboratory and steal the vaccine against STBO, a sexually transmitted disease that is sweeping the country. It's spread by having sex without emotional involvement, and most of its victims are teenagers who make love out of curiosity rather than commitment.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
85% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
7.1 out of 10
- AwardsBelow par
1 win and 1 nomination from smaller awards and festivals
- Reach & staying powerSolid
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 23K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Leos Carax
- Juliette BinocheAnna
- Denis LavantAlex
- Michel PiccoliMarc
- Hans MeyerHans
- Julie DelpyLise
- Carroll BrooksThe American
- Hugo PrattBoris
- Mireille PerrierYoung Mother
- Serge ReggianiCharlie
- Jérôme ZuccaThomas