Day for Night (1973) Synopsis

On location in Nice's Victorine Studios, Ferrand, a committed French filmmaker and François Truffaut's alter-ego, struggles to make an all-star melodrama called "Je Vous Présente Paméla". The screenplay is straightforward: a newlywed woman falls head-over-heels in love with her father-in-law, and complications ensue. However, as Ferrand copes with a myriad of crises, professional and personal, the ambitious project seems doomed from the start. As a result, Ferrand must reconcile neurotic, sensitive, or insecure actors teetering on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Then, he'll have to overcome increasingly challenging technical difficulties, with the Sword of Damocles hanging over his head at every moment. And in this vibrant, hectic microcosm of movie-making, blind passions, capricious whims, and obvious character flaws continue to plague the production. But the question remains. Can Ferrand meet the deadline?—Nick Riganas

On location in Nice's Victorine Studios, Ferrand, a committed French filmmaker and François Truffaut's alter-ego, struggles to make an all-star melodrama called "Je Vous Présente Paméla". The screenplay is straightforward: a newlywed woman falls head-over-heels in love with her father-in-law, and complications ensue. However, as Ferrand copes with a myriad of crises, professional and personal, the ambitious project seems doomed from the start. As a result, Ferrand must reconcile neurotic, sensitive, or insecure actors teetering on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Then, he'll have to overcome increasingly challenging technical difficulties, with the Sword of Damocles hanging over his head at every moment. And in this vibrant, hectic microcosm of movie-making, blind passions, capricious whims, and obvious character flaws continue to plague the production. But the question remains. Can Ferrand meet the deadline?—Nick Riganas

Published Time: 2020-09-08 14:31:39