Martin Roumagnac

Plot

In a little country town, Martin Roumagnac is a building contractor who is liked by the ordinary people. He lives in a shack with his sister while he builds a villa on a plot he has bought. Into town with her uncle comes Blanche Ferrand, an exotic widow who married the owner of the seed and grain shop shortly before his death. Her target for next husband is Laubry, a retired diplomat with a dying wife, and while waiting she has an occasional lover. She also has to fend off a besotted schoolteacher. One evening, feeling the need for some excitement, she goes to a boxing match and sits next to the ebullient Martin. Soon the two are lovers, and when Martin finishes his villa he gives it to her (thereby losing its capital value and depressing his creditworthiness).

Though passionate in private, she finds his lack of refinement embarrassing in public: he drinks only Pernod and chain-smokes Gauloises. His business suffers from his obsession and he is running out of cash. When Laubry's wife dies, Blanche looks forward to a life of ease and sophistication, but Laubry insists she must first break with Martin. He will not hear of it and in rage strangles her. Going home in shock, his sister promises him an alibi and enlists the postman as a witness. His trial is going badly for him until under questioning Blanche's uncle reveals that from her teens she was little more than a whore. The jury acquit him unanimously and he goes home to a party organised by his sister, whose perjury was believed. In the shadows is the rebuffed teacher, who gets his revenge by putting two shots into Martin.

Cast