Bolero
Les uns et les autres
“The dance of life!”
Synopsis
The film follows four families, with different nationalities (French, German, Russian and American) but with the same passion for music, from the 1930s to the 1960s. The various story lines cross each other time and again in different places and times, with their own theme scores that evolve as time passes. The main event in the film is the Second World War, which throws the stories of the four musical families together and mixes their fates. Although all characters are fictional, many of them are loosely based on historical musical icons (Édith Piaf, Josephine Baker, Herbert von Karajan, Glenn Miller, Rudolf Nureyev, etc.) The Boléro dance sequence at the end brings all the threads together.
Top Cast
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Robert Hossein
Simon Meyer / Robert Prat
Nicole Garcia
Anne Meyer
Geraldine Chaplin
Suzan / Sara Glenn
Daniel Olbrychski
Karl Kremer
Jorge Donn
Boris & Sergei Itovitch / Lead Dancer of Boléro
Rita Poelvoorde
Tatiana & Tania Itovitch
Macha Méril
Magda Kremer
Évelyne Bouix
Evelyne / Edith
Francis Huster
Francis
Raymond Pellegrin
M. Raymond
Paul Préboist
Le grand-père d'Edith
Jean-Claude Brialy
Le directeur du Lido
Marthe Villalonga
La grand-mère d'Edith
Fanny Ardant
Véronique
Jean-Claude Bouttier
Philippe Rouget
Richard Bohringer
Richard
Nicole Croisille
Nicole Croisille
Ginette Garcin
Ginette
Release History & Theatrical Window
Kaohsiung Film Festival (4K Restoration)
Festival / Special Debut
June 16, 1982
Wide Cinema Exhibition
May 25, 2004
Physical Home Media
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Claude Lelouch
- Screenplay & Story
- Claude Lelouch
- Original Score
- Francis Lai, Michel Legrand
- Original Title
- Les uns et les autres
- Country of Origin
- France
- Spoken Languages
- Russian, French, English
- Runtime
- 3h 4m
- Production Studios
- Les Films 13
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Claude Lelouch
Claude Lelouch
Francis Lai, Michel Legrand
Jean Boffety
Hugues Darmois, Sophie Bhaud
Claude Lelouch
Department Leadership Roster
Claude Lelouch
Director
Claude Lelouch
Producer
Jean Boffety
Director of Photography
Hugues Darmois
Editor
Sophie Bhaud
Editor
Claude Lelouch
Writer
Francis Lai
Original Music Composer
Michel Legrand
Original Music Composer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Parental Guidance — Recommended for mature viewers.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Bolero.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Bolero.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Bolero
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Bolero about?
The film follows four families, with different nationalities (French, German, Russian and American) but with the same passion for music, from the 1930s to the 1960s. The various story lines cross each other time and again in different places and times, with their own theme scores that evolve as time passes. The main event in the film is the Second World War, which throws the stories of the four musical families together and mixes their fates. Although all characters are fictional, many of them are loosely based on historical musical icons (Édith Piaf, Josephine Baker, Herbert von Karajan, Glenn Miller, Rudolf Nureyev, etc.) The Boléro dance sequence at the end brings all the threads together.
Who directed Bolero?
Bolero was directed by Claude Lelouch.
Who stars in Bolero?
The principal cast of Bolero includes Robert Hossein, Nicole Garcia, Geraldine Chaplin, Daniel Olbrychski, Jorge Donn.
When was Bolero released and how long is it?
Bolero was released in 1981 with a total runtime of 3h 4m.
Who composed the musical score for Bolero?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Bolero was composed by Francis Lai, Michel Legrand.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Bolero?
Bolero holds official age classifications: AU: PG (Parental Guidance — Recommended for mature viewers.).