gavin6942 A group of men hire some prostitutes and go to a villa in the countryside. There, they engage in group sex and resolve to eat themselves to death.The film was somewhat controversial upon its original release with its scatological humor and comic depictions of sex and over-eating. This seems like something you might expect from Bunuel, mixed in a bit with "120 Days of Sodom" (or "Salo"). Not as gross, of course, but it seems to come from the same sort of feeling.I have no idea what was going on in France / Italy in the 1970s to make such strange films. I understand Bunuel's criticism of the bourgeoisie, as he had more or less always had a left-leaning streak of satire in him that came to the forefront later on. But here? If it is satire, it is much more obscure.

zetes The two other Marco Ferreri films I've seen, Dillinger Is Dead and Bye Bye Monkey, I found utterly boring, I must admit. I was a little wary of La grande bouffe, though I had always wanted to see it. I've always been drawn to stories where a group of people (or more usually a couple) lock themselves up together and slowly kill themselves, or screw each others brains out. In this film, four men (Marcello Mastroianni, Michel Piccoli, Philippe Noiret and Ugo Tognazzi, all playing characters who use the actors' real first names) come together in a palatial estate to screw prostitutes and eat themselves to death. No real reason is given. The prostitutes don't make it very long. The constant feasting disgusts them, and they leave. The only woman who does stay is a Reubenesque teacher named Andrea (Andrea Ferreol), who is intrigued by both the food and sex (unlike the other women, the idea of food and sex together turns her on). This movie is a tad too slow. At it's best, though, it's fascinating and hilariously gross. Food seems quite unappetizing after about a half hour of this. I loved the performances. Definitely of interest.

JustApt What can be a better protest against hedonism than to kill oneself in the most hedonistic way: to sate oneself with food and luxury and sex to death? So four old friends gather together in the luxuriant family villa belonging to the one of the participants and start devouring their way to exotic quietus, I should warn you though, the spectacle isn't for the hungry, and however difficult the task may seem it turns out to be quite feasible. What is the most great in this movie is its thick atmosphere of absurdity and surreality of everything happening on the screen and at the same time a verisimilitude of this occurrence. This movie also brilliantly managed to catch a zeitgeist of its epoch. At the time the film was announced to be a scandal of the year.

Cristi_Ciopron Marco Ferreri's ultra film resembles the lugubrious "Salo",but "La Grande ..." is superior.A macabre story about five cranks (4 men and a Miss,who comes in later,as the men's guest) who lurk to eat.Possibly,a surrealistic joke (but I have my reservations about this kind of lexicon,since the worst critics,confronted with playful movies like "La Grande ..." or "Kill Bill",usually resort to such pointless rubbish,getting lost in mumbling "symbolical" interpretations, and keep speaking about ...semiotics,etc.,that kind of crap;but a movie is a show,not a textbook of "symbols",allegories,etc..).A story of brutal grotesque,including visually (e.g.,the sex scenes between Mrs. Ferreol and the four men).It is also a kind of a Marxian diatribe,a scabrous, contemptuous,even fanatical,but far-sighted Marxian satire,about consumerism,lechery,an obese Nympho and farts.Were it not true that style is the substance (the 2 are not like 2 ingredients),"La Grande ..." would be a perfect case of "Style Over Substance ";but since this idea is not acceptable,and the style is the substance,we must conclude that the style itself is flawed in this movie (because of this lack of content),though the technical skills of Ferreri are undeniable.It certainly is an impressive and thumping movie.A ferocious,savory,sarcastic,licentious,scathing and sardonic,and visually copious flick,"La Grande ..." coins many memorable scenes:(1) the morning tenderness between "Philippe" and "Nicole",one of the most bizarre love scenes ever;(2)the "Andrea" tart;(3)the funeral courtyard,packed with dogs and viands. Beautiful cinematography,and a lecherous show.It kind of grows on you,the more you think about it,the more you analyze it.Marco Ferreri was a master;in showing sexuality,some directors are constipated, banal and ridiculously solemn (Bertolucci,even ...Antonioni);others are concupiscent (Brass);Marco Ferreri avoids both traps.The characters are accurately molded.Mastroianni is handsome and well-dressed."La Grande ..." is a highly esteemed,far-famed,very acclaimed fetish,its reputation always precedes it.I must admit I expected something better;one of the movie's main strengths is the cast,although "La Grande ..." in no way can be called a Mastroianni,or a Tognazzi,or a Noiret film.(I do not regard it as an actor-movie,although the acting is flawless;it is certainly an auteur-movie.Not especially for those who want a Mastroianni movie,or a Tognazzi movie,but for those who look for a Marco Ferreri movie.I will not treat it,here,as a Mastroianni/ Tognazzi/Noiret/Mrs. Ferreol movie.Marco Ferreri uses them as a quintet,or as a five-heads monster)It is a dejected flick about excess, dehumanization, dementia,uncouthness,etc.,very a la Bataille/Blanchot.The excess is a Sade/Bataille/Blanchot/Baudrillard theme,taken over by Pasolini,etc..The treatment of this theme here succeeds in giving a grim,sardonic,sensual show,and a Marxist digression.(My mother,with whom I watch and/or discuss many movies,strongly dislikes both Piccoli and Noiret;she considers the later precious,ridiculous and affected.Anyway,Noiret performs richly in "La Grande ...".)