Overview
A tale of love and betrayal set against the backdrop of a tumultuous relationship.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- bleak
- bitterly ironic
- melancholic
- classic film night
- arthouse viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly regard Jean Renoir’s sharply observed adaptation as a powerful, darkly ironic portrait of obsession, exploitation, and social entrapment.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Maurice believes Lulu reciprocates his love, while she accepts him primarily to obtain money for Dédé.
Maurice transforms an accidental encounter with Lulu into an idealized love that blinds him to her motives.
The black-and-white presentation reinforces the film’s stark atmosphere of betrayal, humiliation, and doomed desire.
Maurice’s marriage to the domineering Adèle frames his affair as an escape that produces a different form of captivity.
Films like La Chienne, and why
Le Jour Se Lève
French poetic realism, doomed romantic obsession, and morally compromised characters
The Human Beast
black-and-white fatalism, criminal entanglement, and tragic romantic disillusionment
Pépé le Moko
French crime drama shaped by class tension, betrayal, and bleak irony
Movie Details
- Director
- Jean Renoir
- Release Date
- 1931-11-01
- Runtime
- 96 min
- Rating
- 7.3 / 10 (141)
Cast
- Michel Simon
- Janie Marèse
- Georges Flamant
- Magdeleine Bérubet
- Roger Gaillard
- Jean Gehret
- Lucien Mancini
- Max Dalban
- Romain Bouquet
- Pierre Desty
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Criterion Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is La Chienne about?
- A lonely cashier mistakes a mercenary affair for salvation, setting off a bitter descent through desire, exploitation, and crime.
- What is La Chienne like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of La Chienne as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is La Chienne violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in La Chienne as moderate.
- What did critics think of La Chienne?
- Critics broadly regard Jean Renoir’s sharply observed adaptation as a powerful, darkly ironic portrait of obsession, exploitation, and social entrapment.
- Which films are like La Chienne?
- Films with a similar feel include Le Jour Se Lève, The Human Beast, and Pépé le Moko.
- How long is La Chienne?
- La Chienne runs 96 minutes.
- Where can I watch La Chienne?
- In United States, La Chienne streams on Criterion Channel.
