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Diary of a Chambermaid

Play trailer Poster for Diary of a Chambermaid 1964 1h 37m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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88% Tomatometer 24 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Celestine has a new job as a chambermaid for the quirky M. Monteil, his wife and her father. When the father dies, Celestine decides to quit her job and leave, but when a young girl is raped and murdered, Celestine believes that the Monteils' groundskeeper, Joseph, is guilty, and stays on in order to prove it. She uses her sexuality and the promise of marriage to get Joseph to confess -- but things do not go as planned.
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Diary of a Chambermaid

Critics Reviews

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Jake Wilson The Age (Australia) Nov 9, 2018
Less fantastical than much of Luis Bunuel's work, this 1964 adaptation of Octave Mirbeau's novel demonstrates that realism and surrealism aren't the polar opposites some might think. Go to Full Review Eugene Archer New York Times May 9, 2005
2/5
Sadly, the intervening decades seem to have weakened Mr. Bunuel's powers. His new adaptation of Octave Mirbeau's Diary of a Chambermaid suffers in comparison with the strange but memorable version Jean Renoir did with Paulette Goddard in 1946. Go to Full Review Ed Gonzalez Slant Magazine Sep 8, 2003
4/4
The Diary of a Chambermaid was a crucial turning point in Luis Buuel's career because it would officially usher in the French period of the director's later years. Go to Full Review Frank J. Avella The Contending Mar 25, 2025
B
The film is most fascinating thanks to Moreau and her supporting cast, never overplaying the satire and striking just the right chords to show us a society on the verge of choices that will lead to a kind of madness... Go to Full Review Shelley Burton Los Angeles Free Press Feb 4, 2020
Impressive in the film is the graceful, mature manner in which the characters subtly reveal the dramatics of the story. Go to Full Review Josh Larsen LarsenOnFilm Jan 20, 2017
3/4
...just when it seems to settle in as a black comedy, the movie turns grisly. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Alain E @AlainE May 10, 2025 Sixty years later, this quirky movie remains very watchable. Superb black and white cinematography. The script satirizes conventional wisdom and social norms but admits in the end that revolution is impossible. See more Massoud H @Massoud Dec 30, 2022 This is hands down one of the best films ever made. See more william d @acsdoug Aug 20, 2021 A well acted but only semi-interesting story that fails to deliver at the end. See more Jul 24, 2021 It does have some interesting things to say about the relationship between extreme political identity, class, and violence. That said, I think Buñuel addresses these ideas much better in his more surreal and overtly satirical movies. See more Apr 5, 2019 I agree that this wasn't one of his best, still though it is very Bunuel, with his comment on the bourgeoisie spot on. See more Mar 24, 2019 Superb. One of the best movies of all time. See more Read all reviews
Diary of a Chambermaid

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Cast & Crew

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Luis Buñuel

Director

Jeanne Moreau

Céléstine

Michel Piccoli

M Monteil

Georges Geret

Joseph

Françoise Lugagne

Mme Monteil

Jean Ozenne

M Rabour

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Diary of a Chambermaid

Diary of a Chambermaid (1964) Diary of a Chambermaid (1964) Diary of a Chambermaid (1964) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Celestine has a new job as a chambermaid for the quirky M. Monteil, his wife and her father. When the father dies, Celestine decides to quit her job and leave, but when a young girl is raped and murdered, Celestine believes that the Monteils' groundskeeper, Joseph, is guilty, and stays on in order to prove it. She uses her sexuality and the promise of marriage to get Joseph to confess -- but things do not go as planned.
Director
Luis Buñuel
Producer
Michel Safra, Serge Silberman
Screenwriter
Luis Buñuel, Jean-Claude Carrière
Production Co
Filmsonor
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Canadian French
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 4, 1964, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Sep 21, 1964
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 1, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA)
$19.5K
Runtime
1h 37m
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