The Hussy

The Hussy

1979 · 90 min · ★ 6.7 · Drama

Twenty-year old misfit François earns his living by gathering boxes and bottles to resell to local shopkeepers. He lives with his grossly insensitive mother and stepfather. Mado is a gawky 11-year old, who is neglected by her family because of the oddness of the way she expresses her affection. For reasons which never become clear, François kidnaps Mado, and takes her to live with him in the attic of his parents' home. Instead of feeling fear, Mado enters into the spirit of the abduction, and they joust with one another, increasingly finding love and comfort in their relationship. When the police come upon them, however, they put an entirely different interpretation on their behavior.

Directed by Jacques Doillon · Written by Denis Ferraris

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Cast

Claude Hébert François
Madeleine Desdevises Mado
Paulette Lahaye La mère de Mado
Juliette Le Cauchoix La mère de François
Fernand Decaean Le beau-père de François
Dominique Besnehard L'instituteur
Odette Maestrini L'epicière
Ginette Mazure La photographe
Denise Garnier La secrétaire de Mairie
Norbert Delozier Le beau-frère de François
Janine Huet La soeur de François
Marie Sanson La vieille dame aux Cailloux

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