gridoon2018 "Les Cousins" is the first of two early Claude Chabrol movies ("Les Godelureaux" / "Wise Guys" is the other one) which seem to exist merely to show us that the lives of the idle rich are fun but superficial and empty (Jean Claude Brialy essentially plays the same character in both!). Chabrol makes this point early on, and then belabors it for nearly two hours. There are long, boring scenes in which nothing happens except the characters partying. The film has no plot, but Chabrol does have an ace up his sleeve - a sudden surprise ending (for those viewers who stick with it until then). A lesser Chabrol film in my opinion, although it seems to be highly regarded critically. ** out of 4.

gavin6942 Charles is a young provincial coming up to Paris to study law. He shares his cousin Paul's flat. Paul is a kind of decadent boy, a disillusioned pleasure-seeker, always dragging along with other idles, while Charles is a plodding, naive and honest man. He fell in love with Florence, one of Paul's acquaintances. But how will Paul react to that attempt to build a real love relationship? Of the so-called French New Wave directors, Claude Chabrol has been called possibly the most mainstream (though less celebrated than Truffaut or Godard). We could also say he has a remarkable amount of stamina. "Les Cousins" was at the beginning of his career, and for decades he kept making great movies, including the notable "Madame Bovary" in 1991... and still kept going.I love this film's blend of decadence and death. A simple man, with studies on his mind, is exposed to some bizarre scenes of sensuality, violence, crime, and even Nazi elements (in 1950s France?). This is what it is like if you take two opposing elements and allow them to spin out of control.

zetes Chabrol's second feature. I haven't seen his first, Le beau Serge, but this is the most French New Wave film I've seen from Chabrol. As such, it's by far my favorite. I like several of his films, but I do find even my favorites a little dry. This one is just gorgeous and it's quite a lot of fun throughout. Gerard Blain plays a provincial who is moving to Paris to go to college. He moves in with his cousin (Jean-Claude Brialy), who is himself a student. Brialy is a total party animal, spending all his free time drinking with friends and none of it studying. The two get along at first, but then a woman (Juliette Mayniel) comes between them. The film is kind of a precursor to Jules et Jim.

alberts322 Why is this moving and provoking movie never seen? It never seems to get any notice or mention when discussing or reviewing New Wave films. Better than the "400 Blows" and most of the rest of the genre. Could the score have something to do with this. Does Wagner have such an effect on viewers?