Overview: After he steals money from his wealthy father one too many times, the rebellious François (Jean-Pierre Mocky, Litan) is forcibly committed to a psychiatric institution. Labelled a delinquent and an arsonist, he endures the dehumanizing treatment reserved for society’s rejects and attempts to thwart the archaic methods of the cruel Dr. Varmont (Pierre Brasseur, Children of Paradise).

Adapted by Mocky from Hervé Bazin’s shocking autobiographical novel, this poetic and furious debut feature from Georges Franju (Eyes Without a Face) features an all-star cast including Anouk Aimée (La Dolce Vita) as François’s only visitor, Paul Meurisse (Diabolique) in the role of the more modern Dr. Emery, and Charles Aznavour (Shoot the Piano Player) as a long-time resident of the institution.

Blu-ray Verdict: La Tete contre les Murs (Head Against the Wall) was the first feature film directed by Georges Franju. Prior to that he made a dozen shot features and documentaries most remarkable of them being his debut 1949th documentary Blood of the Beasts. Franju is mainly known for being the co-founder in 1936 of the French Film Archive.

Originally Head Against the Wall was the dream project of Jean-Pierre Mocky, who made a screenplay adaptation of the novel by Herve Bazin and invited Franju to direct it. With Franju came the rest of the cast, namely: Pierre Brasseur, Paul Meurisse and Charles Aznavour, who proved here that he not only can sing, but act also, and how!

The main character of the film François (Jean-Pierre Mocky) is a troubled young man whose main occupation in life is motor-cross racing and whose mother had recently committed suicide. The only glimpse of light in his life is Stephanie (Anouk Aimee). Since the tragic death of his mother he finds it especially difficult to live with his despotic father Mr. Gerane.

The tension between them comes too far resulting in François being sent to a Mental Hospital by his father, under a false medical report. Here we come to the second main theme of the film (the first being father-son, in fact generations conflict) which is sanity behind the insanity, sanity in the world of the insane.

Entering this world François finds a friend Heurtevent (Charles Aznavour) who is like him has little to do with the place they are in. He’s a kind of a very sad daydreamer who simply wants to get free from Hospital’s surroundings and constant control of a kind of a substitute for his father, it’s director - Dr. Valmont (Pierre Brasseur) and peacefully live somewhere by the seaside. Together with François they are beginning to make plans to escape. [I.A.]

Limited Edition Special Features:
4K restoration by Éclair Classics supervised by Mocky Delicious Products Uncompressed mono PCM audio
Archival interview with screenwriter and star Jean-Pierre Mocky (2008, 10 mins)
Archival interview with director Georges Franju and actor Charles Aznavour (1958)
Interview with Jean-Pierre Mocky’s assistant and friend Eric Le Roy (2023, 25 mins)
Archival trailer
Newly improved English subtitle translation
Reversible sleeve featuring designs based on original posters

Official Purchase Link

www.radiancefilms.co.uk