Life and Nothing But

Life and Nothing But

135 mins | Drama, War | Sept. 6, 1989

January, 1920. 350,000 French soldiers remain missing in action. Major Dellaplane tirelessly matches the dead and the wounded with families' descriptions. Honor and ethics drive him; he hates the idea of "the unknown soldier." Into his sector, looking for her husband, comes a haughty, politically connected Parisian, Madame Irène de Courtil. Brusquely, Dellaplane offers her 1/350,000th of his time, but as their paths cross and she sees his courage and resolve, feelings change. After he finds a surprising connection between her missing husband and a local teacher, Irène makes Dellaplane an offer. This man of action hesitates: has he missed his only chance?

Life and Nothing But

135 mins | Drama, War | Sept. 6, 1989

Life and Nothing But
January, 1920. 350,000 French soldiers remain missing in action. Major Dellaplane tirelessly matches the dead and the wounded with families' descriptions. Honor and ethics drive him; he hates the idea of "the unknown soldier." Into his sector, looking for her husband, comes a haughty, politically connected Parisian, Madame Irène de Courtil. Brusquely, Dellaplane offers her 1/350,000th of his time, but as their paths cross and she sees his courage and resolve, feelings change. After he finds a surprising connection between her missing husband and a local teacher, Irène makes Dellaplane an offer. This man of action hesitates: has he missed his only chance?
IMDb rating 7.5
Producers Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée, Hachette Première, Films A2, Little Bear, Sofinergie 1, AB Films, Investimage
Original title La Vie et rien d'autre
Directors Bertrand Tavernier
Writers Jean Cosmos, Bertrand Tavernier

Cast

Philippe Noiret

as Commandant Delaplane

Sabine Azéma

as Irène de Courtil

Pascale Vignal

as Alice

Maurice Barrier

as Mercadot

François Perrot

as Perrin

Jean-Pol Dubois

as André, le chauffeur

Daniel Russo

as Lieutenant Trévise

Michel Duchaussoy

as Général Villerieux

Arlette Gilbert

as Valentine

Louis Lyonnet

as Valentin

Charlotte Maury-Sentier

as Cora Mabel

François Caron

as Julien

Thierry Gimenez

as l'adjudant du génie

Frédérique Meininger

as Mme Lebègue

Pierre Trabaud

as Eugène Dilatoire

Jean-Roger Milo

as Monsieur Lebègue

André Claisse

as un client dans le restaurant

Didier Grégoire

as un soldat dans la salle des fêtes

Marcel Zanini

as Léon, un musicien / Léon

Catherine Verlor

as Bonne soeur plage

Jean-Christophe Lebert

as L'amnésique

Bruno Therasse

as Rougeaud

Philippe Uchan

as L'homme sans jambes

Marion Loran

as Solange de Boissancourt

Charlotte Kady

as Bonne soeur hôpital

Gabriel Cattand

as Professeur Mortier

Christophe Odent

as Poirleau

Christian Magnan

as Catreux

Jean Champion

as Lagrange

Philippe Deplanche

as Lecordier

Michel Cassagne

as Abel Masclé

Frédéric Pierrot

as Marcel

François Domange

as Georges

Jean-Paul Comart

as Fagot

Patrick Massieu

as Le gardien du cimetière

Didier Harlmann

as Le manchot

Pascal Elso

as L'aveugle

Odile Cointepas

as Madame Hannesson

Louba Guertchikoff

as La femme aux yeux bleus

Jean-Claude Calon

as Le sergent zélé

Jean-Yves Gautier

as Caporal

Gilles Janeyrand

as Sous-Officier

Nicolas Tronc

as Soldat Lefèvre

Michèle Gleizer

as La fermière

Daniel Langlet

as Monsieur Lohac

Adrienne Bonnet

as Madame Lohac

Marc Perrone

as Pochin

Georges Staquet

as Le curé

Alain Frérot

as Pelat

François Dyrek

as Vergnes

Oswald d'Andréa

as Pianiste Cora Mabel

Micky Baker

as Banjo jazz

Sancoma Everett

as Batteur jazz

Bobby Few

as Pianiste jazz

Steve Potts

as Saxophoniste jazz

Mike Zwerin

as Jennings

Bruno Raffaelli

as Maginot

Éric Dufay

as Soldat Thain