Name: Pourvu qu'on ait l'ivresse
Genre: Drama
Released: 1974-10-10
Duration: 1 h 22 min
Rating: 5.5
Cast: Denyse Roland, Alain Noury, Paul Guers

In the early 1970s period erotica were very popular in Europe.  Mostly these were comedies or horror/sex hybrids.  Pourvu qu'on ait l'ivresse is a little different, as this is an erotic drama (set in the 18th century, in France), albeit one that doesn't take itself too seriously.  For a mainstream film it is too exploitative and for an exploitation film it is too pretentious, but if (unlike some critics) you are not obsessed with shoving every film into some sort of category it is quite enjoyable for what it is.

The casting is excellent for the male roles but very questionable for the female ones, especially the lead.  Denyse Roland's acting range appears extremely limited - she keeps the same facial expression throughout the film and she generally appears rather bland. Her role requires passion and sensuality, but she appears timid and passive.  Although she's beautiful, it's more the beauty of a good looking supermarket check-out operator; it is difficult to accept that she is the cause of so much emotional distress.

A stroke of genius was the use of Carmina Burana as the film music. Finally some film maker remembered that the subject of Carmina Burana is debauchery and that it is therefore very well suited to support scenes of that kind. Several scenes were clearly written to fit with the music and these are the best scenes of the film.  A year earlier, the Italian sex comedy Il Tuo Piacere E Il Mio had also used Carmina Burana (with the text translated into Italian though), but without filming any scenes for the music.

French-language cinema, whether in France, Québec, or other Francophone regions, explores cultural identity, social change, and the tension between the individual and society. French cinema is not only celebrated for its intellectual experimentation and auteur traditions, but also its success in mainstream comedy, romance, and commercial entertainment. In Québec, films often focus on questions of language, belonging, and community within a distinct cultural landscape.

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The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

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Pourvu qu'on ait l'ivresse

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