Bed and Board () is a 1970 French comedy-drama film directed by François Truffaut, and starring Jean-Pierre Léaud and Claude Jade. It is the fourth in Truffaut's series of five films about Antoine Doinel, and directly follows Stolen Kisses, depicting the married life of Antoine (Léaud) and Christine (Jade). Love on the Run finished the story in 1979.
Plot
Antoine and Christine have gotten married and are living in a pleasant apartment that her parents have found for them. In it she gives violin lessons, while he works in the courtyard dyeing carnations for flower shops. When his experiments with colouring agents go horribly wrong, he has to find other work. An American company hires him to demonstrate model boats to potential customers in a mock-up harbour. Christine has a baby boy, which she calls Ghislain but he registers as Alphonse. At work he meets a Japanese girl, who invites him for a meal in her apartment. An affair starts, which Christine becomes aware of when she finds little hidden love letters. Antoine is banished from the bedroom and eventually moves out to a hotel, while Christine makes a life for herself and the baby. Antoine, bored and restless in a pointless existence, keeps telephoning her and at the end she is probably ready to take him back.
Cast
Jean-Pierre Léaud as Antoine Doinel
Claude Jade as Christine Doinel
Daniel Ceccaldi as Lucien Darbon
Claire Duhamel as Madame Darbon
Hiroko Berghauer as Kyoko
Daniel Boulanger as Tenor
Silvana Blasi as Tenor's wife
Pierre Fabri as the office Romeo
Barbara Laage as Monique, secretary
Billy Kearns as M. Max
Claude Véga as the Strangler
Jacques Jouanneau as Césarin
Danièle Girard as Ginette, a waitress
Jacques Robiolles as Sponger
Yvon Lec as the Traffic Warden
Marie Irakane as Mrs Martin, a concierge
Ernest Menzer as the little man
Jacques Rispal as Old Solitary
Philippe Léotard as a Drunkard
Pierre Maguelon as Cérasin's friend
Guy Pierrault as an SOS employee
Marcel Mercier as a person in the courtyard
Joseph Merieau as a person in the courtyard
Christian de Tiliere as a Senator
Nobuko Mati as Kyoko's friend
Iska Khan as Kyoko's father
Marie Dedieu as Marie, a prostitute
Jacques Cottin as Monsieur Hulot (uncredited)
Release
Critical reception
John Simon wrote that Bed and Board "gives no offense, and no enlightenment".