The Abyss
L'œuvre au noir
Synopsis
The Inquisition is in full swing in 16th century Flanders. Wanted for his dissident writings, the alchemist doctor Zeno has been wandering Europe under an assumed name for twenty years. But he remains a non-conformist. He returns to his native Bruges, where he thinks he has been forgotten. In this silent labyrinth where the faces of the past resurface, he rediscovers his identity and thus signs his death warrant.
Top Cast
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Gian Maria Volonté
Zenone
Sami Frey
Prieur des Cordeliers
Anna Karina
Catherine
Philippe Léotard
Henri-Maximilien
Jacques Lippe
Myers
Jean Bouise
Campanus
Marie-France Pisier
Martha
Mathieu Carrière
Pierre de Hamaere
Nadine Uwampa
La Moricaude
Marie-Christine Barrault
Hilzonde
Mathieu Carrière
Pierre
Johan Leysen
Rombaut
Pierre Dherte
Cyprien
Isabelle Roelandt
Idelette
Dora van der Groen
Greete
Christian Maillet
Philibert
Jules-Henri Marchant
L'évêque
Senne Rouffaer
Le Cocq
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- André Delvaux
- Screenplay & Story
- André Delvaux
- Original Score
- Frédéric Devreese
- Original Title
- L'œuvre au noir
- Country of Origin
- Belgium, France
- Spoken Languages
- French
- Runtime
- 1h 50m
- Production Studios
- Philippe Dussart S.a.r.l., La Sept, La Nouvelle Imagerie, Canal+
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
André Delvaux
André Delvaux, Marguerite Yourcenar
Frédéric Devreese
Albert Jurgenson, Nadine Muse, Jean-Pierre Besnard
Jean-Claude Batz, Philippe Dussart
Department Leadership Roster
André Delvaux
Director
André Delvaux
Screenplay
Jacqueline Moreau
Costume Design
Albert Jurgenson
Editor
Jean-Claude Batz
Producer
Nadine Muse
Editor
Jean-Pierre Besnard
Editor
Philippe Dussart
Producer
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Abyss.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Abyss
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Abyss about?
The Inquisition is in full swing in 16th century Flanders. Wanted for his dissident writings, the alchemist doctor Zeno has been wandering Europe under an assumed name for twenty years. But he remains a non-conformist. He returns to his native Bruges, where he thinks he has been forgotten. In this silent labyrinth where the faces of the past resurface, he rediscovers his identity and thus signs his death warrant.
Who directed The Abyss?
The Abyss was directed by André Delvaux.
Who stars in The Abyss?
The principal cast of The Abyss includes Gian Maria Volonté, Sami Frey, Anna Karina, Philippe Léotard, Jacques Lippe.
When was The Abyss released and how long is it?
The Abyss was released in 1988 with a total runtime of 1h 50m.
Who composed the musical score for The Abyss?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Abyss was composed by Frédéric Devreese.
Is The Abyss based on a book or true story?
The Abyss is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Marguerite Yourcenar".