A fatal car crash reveals the fragile architecture of a man's entire life
In short: In Claude Sautet's 1970 drama The Things of Life, a simple traffic accident becomes a portal into the past. As an architect lies dying in a French orchard, the film fractures time, forcing him to confront the messy, unposted letters and unresolved loves that define his existence.
The film, based on Paul Guimard's 1967 novel Intersection, follows Pierre, an architect whose life is interrupted by a collision with a lorry carrying pigs. While the premise sounds like a standard romantic drama, its power lies in its non-linear structure. The narrative constantly shifts between the immediate aftermath of the crash, the moment of impact, and the mundane events leading up to the tragedy. This technique transforms a singular moment of violence into a meditative exploration of the 'things of life'—the small, often overlooked details that constitute a human biography.
Pierre’s internal conflict centers on his fractured relationships: his estranged wife, Catherine, and his lover, Hélène. Before the crash, he had been paralyzed by indecision, failing to sign documents for a new job in Tunis and writing a letter to Hélène to end their relationship, only to change his mind while driving. The film’s emotional climax occurs in the hospital, where the unsent letter becomes a symbol of his missed opportunities. When Catherine discovers the note, she destroys it, effectively sealing the fate of the woman who arrives too late to say goodbye.
Despite initial resistance from financiers, the film became Claude Sautet's first major success, drawing nearly three million admissions in France. It marked the beginning of a legendary collaboration between Sautet and composer Philippe Sarde, who would work together for twenty-five years. Critics remain divided on its legacy; while some praise the understated, grave performance of Michel Piccoli, others have questioned the film's sentimentality. Regardless, the film remains a masterclass in visual storytelling, particularly in its meticulously staged crash sequence, which required two weeks of filming on a custom-built crossroads to capture the precise, jarring reality of a life veering off course.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Things of Life
- Also: Wikidata — The Things of Life · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — The Things of Life: Materiality in Late Soviet Russia by Alexey Golubev · CC0
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