This is François Leterrier's second film ,and along with his first effort "Les Mauvais Coups" ,it can be considered his best.The rest of his career,with the eventual exception of "Projection Privée" is almost worthless ("Emmanuelle","Va Voir Maman Papa Travaille" ).It's extraordinary he fell so quickly after his ambitious debut.
"Un Roi Sans Divertissement" is an anomaly in the French sixties.It has nothing to do with the nouvelle vague (who said fortunately?) and nothing to do with the old one either.Its cast is bizarre:Claude Giraud,de la Comedy Française, was essentially a stage actor,mainly known for a supporting part in the "Angelique Marquise des Anges " saga and Colette Renard was a singer , an occasional actress.Charles Vanel was the only household name ( "Le Salaire de la Peur" ,"Les Diaboliques" and "To catch a Thief").A Jacques Brel song (not intended for the film) "Pourquoi Faut -il Que Les Hommes S'Ennuient?" "(=why must men be bored?)is heard during the credits .
A rural thriller involving a serial killer ,a "man like you and me" ,an officer who investigates in a small village surrounded by snow ;he is housed in a middle age woman's café (who was once a madam). The screenplay displays weaknesses -it's difficult to believe the final behavior of the hero-and the dialog is too poetic,too literary. Jean Giono was more convincing when he showed his pacifism in other works than when he tries his hand at metaphysical considerations.
What is really fascinating is the cinematography ,the atmosphere which the director creates: the search in the snow where human people look like giant insects from a distance ,a search which looks like an entertainment:the moment when they share a delicious chef's special paté is revealing.Sometimes the picture almost turns black and white.And I've rarely seen a more inventive way of filming a church.