The Big Departure

The Big Departure

71 mins | Drama, Fantasy | Nov. 15, 1972

This is the only feature directed by the famed French painter and sculptor Martial Raysse. In keeping with the revolutionary spirit of the time, the movie has no plot to speak of and appears to have been largely made up on the spot. We follow the cat man into a bizarre fantasy universe presented in negative exposure that reverses color values (black is white and vice versa) and written words. The cat man steals a car and then picks up a young girl he promises to take to “Heaven.” Heaven turns out to be a country chateau inhabited by several more animal mask wearing weirdoes...

The Big Departure

71 mins | Drama, Fantasy | Nov. 15, 1972

The Big Departure
This is the only feature directed by the famed French painter and sculptor Martial Raysse. In keeping with the revolutionary spirit of the time, the movie has no plot to speak of and appears to have been largely made up on the spot. We follow the cat man into a bizarre fantasy universe presented in negative exposure that reverses color values (black is white and vice versa) and written words. The cat man steals a car and then picks up a young girl he promises to take to “Heaven.” Heaven turns out to be a country chateau inhabited by several more animal mask wearing weirdoes...
Producers Sunchild Productions
Original title Le Grand Départ
Directors Martial Raysse
Writers Martial Raysse

Cast

Sterling Hayden

as M. Nature / The Leader

Anne Wiazemsky

as Mona Lisa

Gilles Raysse

as Caïn

Lucienne Hamon

as Mme Nature

Alexandre Raysse

as Innocence

Jackie Raynal

as Sterling Hayden's Wife