Claude Sautet’s The Things of Life: Celebrating 100 Years of a Legend

April 19, 2024 2 min read

Jakarta Cinema Club is marking the 100th anniversary of Claude Sautet’s birth with a special screening of his film The Things of Life (Les Choses de la Vie) through our The After Hours program. The film originally came out in 1970 and is based on a novel by Paul Guimard.

Sautet is widely regarded for his thoughtful portrayals of human relationships, especially among the middle class. He began his career as an assistant director and screenwriter and reached a kind of cinematic peak with The Things of Life, starring Michel Piccoli and Romy Schneider. His signature style involves deeply emotional character studies, precise dialogue, and a strong sense of internal conflict — traits that appear again in later films such as César et Rosalie (1972), Vincent, François, Paul et les Autres (1974), and A Heart in Winter (1992).

Claude Sautet, widely regarded as *the master of sober and mature cinema* (Gambar: Film at Lincoln Center)

What makes Sautet’s work resonate is his realism: the way he captures everyday conversations and complex emotional webs in romantic and familial relationships. His characters don’t simply love and argue — they navigate guilt, regret, and mortality. That’s part of why The Things of Life remains one of his most important works.

Claude Sautet’s The Things of Life: Celebrating 100 Years of a Legend

In this story, we follow Pierre — an architect played by Piccoli — just after a serious car accident. As he lies injured, he reflects on moments from his life: his relationship with former lover Hélène (Schneider), his flawed marriage, and his role as a father. Through flashbacks, the film explores themes of love, regret, and the fragility of life. Sautet’s direction, combined with Piccoli and Schneider’s powerful performances, gives the film a weight that lingers long after the credits.

The After Hours is an offline program by Jakarta Cinema Club and the team behind THE PAGE podcast, open to all film lovers. This time, we’re collaborating with Institut Français Indonésie (IFI) to host the event. It will take place on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 at 19:00 at IFI Thamrin, Central Jakarta. Whether you come alone or with friends, it makes no difference. You’ll definitely meet new people here.