Bilitis (film)

Bilitis is a 1977 French erotic romantic drama film directed by photographer David Hamilton, with a music score by Francis Lai. It stars Patti D'Arbanville and Mona Kristensen as the title character Bilitis and Melissa, respectively.

Bilitis
Directed by	David Hamilton
Written by	Robert Boussinot Catherine Breillat Jacques Nahum
Based on	The Songs of Bilitis by Pierre Louÿs
Produced by	Sylvio Tabet Malcolm J. Thomson
Starring	Patti D'Arbanville
Cinematography	Bernard Daillencourt]l
Edited by	Henri Colpi Claire Painchault Michel Valio
Music by	Francis Lai
Production companies	ECTA Filmproduktion Les Films 21 Mars International Productions
Distributed by	SNC
Release date	16 March 1977 (1977-03-16)
Running time	95 minutes
Country	France
Language	French

The film is loosely based on a poem cycle by Pierre Louÿs entitled The Songs of Bilitis set in ancient Greece, although the film is set in modern Europe. The poems were meant to be autobiographical works by the title character.^[1]

Synopsis

Bilitis, a teenage schoolgirl, spends the summer with her aunt Melissa and her unfaithful husband Pierre, a couple whose marriage is strained, and develops a lesbian crush on Melissa. Meanwhile, she pursues Lucas, a local teenage boy, and tries to find a "suitable male lover" for Melissa.^[2]

Bilitis' sexual adventure eventually lead to an unhappy result, and she decides to return to school alone.

Cast

• Patti D'Arbanville as Bilitis
• Mona Kristensen as Melissa
• Bernard Giraudeau as Lucas
• Gilles Kohler as Pierre
• Mathieu Carrière as Nikias
• Irka Bochenko as Prudence
• Jacqueline Fontaine as Head Mistress
• Marie-Thérèse Caumont as Sub-Principal
• Germaine Delbat as Principal
• Madeleine Damien as Nanny
• Camille Larivière as Susy
• Catherine Leprince as Helen
• Sabine Froute as Sabine

Production

The film was shot in the same soft focus style that was characteristic of David Hamilton's photography and his other films.

Companion book

In 1977, Hamilton released a photobook, Bilitis, which included the most memorable images from the film.

Soundtrack charts

Chart (1978)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[3]	60