Stepfather (1981) Beau-père | Region-Free (Blu-Ray) | Directed by Bertrand Blier

Title: Stepfather (1981)

Alternate Title: Beau-père

Genre: Drama, Romance

Plot Synopsis:
Rémi, a struggling pianist, finds himself in a deteriorating marriage with his wife, Martine. Tragically, Martine dies in a car accident, leaving Rémi to care for his 14-year-old stepdaughter, Marion. Choosing to stay with Rémi rather than her biological father, Marion begins to develop feelings for her stepfather. Initially resistant, Rémi grapples with his own emotions as Marion’s affections become more pronounced. The film delves into the complexities of their evolving relationship, challenging societal norms and personal boundaries.

Cast and Crew:

• Director: Bertrand Blier
• Writer: Bertrand Blier
• Cast:
  • Patrick Dewaere as Rémi
  • Ariel Besse as Marion
  • Maurice Ronet as Charly
  • Geneviève Mnich as Martine
  • Nathalie Baye as Charlotte

YouTube Trailer:
Beau Pere | Official Trailer

IMDb Link:
Beau Pere (1981)

Reviews from Letterboxd:

1. Fnord – ★★★½
   “Even for Blier, this one is totally insane. Not necessarily insane in the structural sense as most of his films from this period, it has a surprisingly fairly conventional narrative structure, but hoooodoggy the plot. 21st century Americans would be breaking their TV sets, after a good ogle at nude 16 yr old star Ariel Besse, of course. Because if anything defines American Exceptionalism more than glaring hypocrisy it’s white hot horniness with a supersized side of shame. The story, wherein Patrick Dewaere agonizes over whether he should start humping his 14 year old step daughter after his wife/her mother dies, is in bad taste even by the most liberal standards of taste. That said, it’s actually probably the most…”
2. Lou (rhymes with wow!) – ★★★★½
   “Stop treating this as a film about ped0philia. It’s not. It’s a film about a man who is in a very difficult situation, and he’s trying to do the right thing. He’s not a predator. He’s not grooming her. He’s not manipulating her. He’s not abusing her. He’s not taking advantage of her. He’s not a monster. He’s a human being who is struggling with his own feelings and trying to navigate a situation that he never asked for and doesn’t know how to handle. And Marion is not a victim. She’s not being coerced. She’s not being forced. She’s not being abused. She’s not being manipulated. She’s not being taken advantage of. She’s a young woman who is discovering her own feelings and…”
3. Ara – ★★★
   “I don’t really know how to begin my review. Maybe, with a little background information. As a teenager I used to romanticize a lot these Lolita-like stories about older men falling for younger girls. I came to realize over the years that these ‘romances’ were, in fact, some creepy fantasies where older men can take advantage of young girls.”

Meta Description:
“Beau Pere” (1981), directed by Bertrand Blier, explores the controversial relationship between a man and his 14-year-old stepdaughter following the death of his wife, delving into themes of love, morality, and societal boundaries.