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Crime Cult Classic

A tyrannical father's secrets collide with his daughter's awakening in this French crime drama.

A BRUTAL GAME

1983 · 1h 30m · NR · Crime / Drama · IMDB TMDB

A strict father imposes impossible guidelines on his disabled daughter which reflect his secret and tortured life.

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Quick Answer

What is A Brutal Game about?

A Brutal Game is a 1983 French crime drama directed by Jean-Claude Brisseau about a controlling scientist father and his paralysed daughter, exploring their turbulent relationship as his dark secrets unravel.

Programmer's Pick

Brisseau steers clear of genre clichés, turning the serial-killer premise into a brooding study of power, repression, and awakening. If you like your crime dramas with a psychological edge and a dash of French audacity, this one's for you.

— SassyFlix Programmer

Overview

A Brutal Game (Un jeu brutal) unfolds the grim story of Professor Tessier, a renowned scientist whose life is marked by both brilliance and brutality. Tessier enforces strict, impossibly high standards on his teenage daughter Isabelle, who is paralysed from the waist down. As the film opens, it becomes clear Tessier harbors a violent side, having killed children who vandalised his lab. The dynamic between Tessier's oppressive control and Isabelle’s gradual openness to the world forms the emotional core of the film. Jean-Claude Brisseau avoids typical serial killer tropes, instead crafting a haunting character portrait powered by intense lead performances.

Details & Specs

Director
Jean-Claude Brisseau
Writer
Jean-Claude Brisseau
Release
1983
Runtime
1h 30m
Country
France
Language
French
Genres
Crime, Drama
Also Known As
A Brutal Game, Grausames Spiel, Original title: Un jeu brutal

Cast & Crew

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Director: Jean-Claude Brisseau Writer: Jean-Claude Brisseau
Bruno Cremer Bruno Cremer Tessier Emmanuelle Debever Emmanuelle Debever Isabelle María Luisa García María Luisa García Annie AP Albert Pigot Pascal LP Lucien Plazanet Lucien Humbert Balsan Humbert Balsan Le Journaliste Jean Douchet Jean Douchet Le Professeur Marchal LG Liliane Gaudet La Dame de Compagnie Jean-Claude de Goros Jean-Claude de Goros Le Policier CG Catherine Griffoni L'Amie de Pascal Marie-France Mignal Marie-France Mignal La Mère d'Éliane VG Véronique Grard Dominique CO Charles-Hubert Ordinis Bruno AS Aurélie Sterling Éliane SL Sylvestre Lopez L'Ami d'Éliane FA Francisco Acbituno La Bande (as Francisco Aceituno) MA Michael Assous La Bande YB Yann Blere La Bande ED Edouardo Daluz (as Eduardo Dalluz) JK Jacques Krispil La Bande EM Eric Merlin La Bande MR Maria Rodriguez La Bande Lucienne Le Marchand Lucienne Le Marchand La Mère de Christian Jean-Claude Brisseau Jean-Claude Brisseau L'Homme sur le Quai de Gare (uncredited)

Explore More

Why Cult

Father-Daughter Psychodrama

The turbulent relationship between a domineering scientist and his disabled daughter drives the film’s emotional intensity.

French Character Study

Jean-Claude Brisseau crafts a mesmerizing, nuanced look at obsession, control, and moral decline.

Transgressive Themes

The film’s willingness to probe taboo behavior and psychological darkness sets it apart from standard crime fare.

Stunning Performances

Bruno Cremer and Emmanuelle Debever anchor the film with layered, powerful portrayals.

Scene Gallery

Threat File

Trigger

Lab vandalism by local children

Threat

Professor Tessier's violent retaliation

Effect

Systematic murder of the children

Setting

Tessier's home and community

Questions from the Vault

When was A Brutal Game released? +

A Brutal Game was released in 1983.

Who directed A Brutal Game? +

A Brutal Game was directed by Jean-Claude Brisseau.

How long is A Brutal Game? +

A Brutal Game has a runtime of 90 minutes.

What genre is A Brutal Game? +

A Brutal Game is a crime drama.

Where can I watch A Brutal Game? +

A Brutal Game is available to stream on SassyFlix.

Trailers & Clips

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