France / Nov 06, 2025 / TP / Arte•tv
Overall average
5.0/10
Plot
At the end of the 19th century, an orphan comes to live with her aunt and uncle in Normandy. The girl is taken in not only out of philanthropy, but because she has a large inheritance that is held in trust. The child grows up and is attracted to her cousin, an underachieving airhead, whom she later helps out of financial difficulties as a young woman. After her aunt's death, she takes over the household and helps the family financially. The planned marriage to her cousin fails when a rival appears. This is the story of a selfless woman who, despite her disappointments and low lives, refuses to let them take the joy out of life.
Main cast
Full cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Matilda Marty | Pauline enfant |
Genres
Technical details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Original title | La Joie de vivre |
| Original language | Français (FR) |
| Spoken languages | Français |
| Production countries | France |
| Status | Released |
| Production companies | Escazal Films, ARTE, France 2 |
| Release date | 5 ottobre 2011 |
| Production | Denis Carot, Sophie Révil |
| Writer | Jean-Pierre Améris, Murielle Magellan, Émile Zola |
| Casting | Tatiana Vialle |
| Editing | Jacqueline Mariani |
| Cinematography | Gérard Simon |
| Assistant directors | Jean-Pierre Améris |
| Camera operators | Gérard Simon |
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| Additional photography | Gérard Simon |
| Production design | William Mordos, Pascaline Pitiot |
| Art direction | Pascaline Pitiot, William Mordos |
| Set decoration | William Mordos, Pascaline Pitiot |
| Music | Stéphane Moucha |
| Sound | Stéphane Moucha |
| Costume design | Claire Gerard-Hirne, Simon Maggie, Franck Mendoche |
| Makeup | Simon Maggie, Claire Gerard-Hirne, Franck Mendoche |
| Hairstyling | Claire Gerard-Hirne, Simon Maggie, Franck Mendoche |
Release dates
Digital
TV
France / Oct 05, 2011 / TP / France•2
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