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Poster for Picnic on the Grass

Picnic on the Grass

1959 · 1h 31m · N/A Comedy, Romance
Directed by Jean Renoir

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Overview

Etienne Alexis, a candidate for president of the new Europe, is a scientist promoting artificial insemination for social betterment and therapy to eliminate passion. To celebrate his engagement to a cousin, he hosts an aseptic picnic, where mother nature asserts herself. A shepherd's flute conjures a windstorm that throws Alexis together with the luscious Nénette, a farm lass who wants to have a baby but is unimpressed with men.

Director and cast

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Top critics, in their words

All reviews
71%
Tomatometer
Fresh

Renoir manages to inject an uncommon amount of feeling into all the frivolity and whimsy; the results are both absurdist and sublime.

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Rotten

Again and again, sumptuous photography collapses into cold argument.

Time Out

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