Je t'aime moi non plus

 (1975)

by Tuna

"I love you, I don't," as the English version of this film is called, was also the title of a song recorded by director Serge Gainsbourg and his then-girlfriend Brigitte Bardot. Later, he re-recorded it with his new girlfriend, Jane Birkin, and it became a runaway best seller, selling six million copies worldwide, despite being banned by the BBC. The song was thought to include references to anal sex, and was erotic enough to piss off the pope, and censors in many countries. It was obviously the inspiration for the film script.

A gay garbage truck driver (Joe Dallessandro) and his boyfriend stop at a truck stop, and he is instantly attracted to Johnny (Jane Birkin) the waitress, who looks almost like a boy. When asked about her name, she answers that it is because she has no tits or big butt. She works for a creep, and the truck stop is remote, so she is lonely and love-starved. Joe begins pursuing her, but his boyfriend is insanely jealous, and Jane's boss warns her that her new beau is gay.

Since the film is French, the cast naturally includes Gerard Depardieu. To give you an idea how omnipresent Depardieu is in French cinema, he has 141 credits, 9 in production for this year, and already has one in preproduction for next year. This time, Depardieu sees Joe's boyfriend, and says that he knows the guy wants him to fuck him up the ass, but he has sent too many boys to the hospital that way, and now prefers his horse.

Not unexpectedly, Joe and Jane develop additional relationship problems. Joe can't bear the thought of vaginal sex, and his early attempts at anal sex are so painful to her that she ends up screaming and gets them thrown out of hotels. They finally consummate their mutual attraction in the back of his dump truck. Just when you think we are heading for a happy ending, things go wrong.

This is not an easy film to categorize, but I guess it is a love story centered around Jane Birkin's boyish figure. Jane and the cast engage in plenty of sex, nudity, and raunchy talk, and Birkin's husband admits he had some trouble with jealousy directing her in this film.  It is an easy watch even with the subtitles, as it is not heavily dialogue based, and everyone in the cast can act. The lighting and camera work ranges from very good to outstanding, and the story is certainly not the same old Hollywood formula.

Our Grade:

If you are not familiar with our grading system, you need to read the explanation, because the grading is not linear. For example, by our definition, a C is solid and a C+ is a VERY good movie. There are very few Bs and As. Based on our descriptive system, this film is a:

C+

Competent and different, this is recommended for those who look for something out of the ordinary.

NUDITY REPORT

  • Jane Birkin and Joe Dallessandro do full frontal and rear nudity.

  • Several unknowns show various body parts,.

     

THE CRITICS AND ACADEMIES

No major reviews online, but there is an outstanding analysis by Senses of Cinema

   
   
   
   
   

 

 

THE BOX OFFICE

Unknown

 

 

 

THE PEOPLE

   
6.3 IMDB summary (of 10)
   

 

 

 

 I Love You I Don't

It is available from RLDVDs.com in a region 2 PAL in French with English subtitles.