very conscientous [sic] observer of psychological conflicts". Lanzoni found traces of Blier's "confrontational" style in Beau Pere. Critic Peter Cowie wrote it displayed exploration of "Blier's recurrent theme of a free, guiltless sexuality in which the men are finally found wanting". The element of incest in a 14-year-old girl seducing her stepfather also raises questions of immorality. Film Professor Sue Harris wrote Beau Pere features Blier's experimentation with fourth wall-breaking monologues from characters, with Rémi giving a lengthy address to the audience in an ironic tone reminiscent of film noir. The monologue offers omniscience, and conflicts with narrative. Harris added the way Rémi also identifies himself as "le pianist" fits Blier's tendency to identify characters in flat ways, creating expectations from the audience. Production Development Writer and director Bertrand Blier declared Beau Pere was intended as "an ode to the fair sex and to womanhood in its purest form". Like Blier's earlier film Going Places (1974), he based it on a novel he had written, also titled Beau-père. The film was shot in Sèvres and Ville-d'Avray. The bass played by Maurice Risch's character is performed by musician Stéphane Grappelli. Casting The film stars Patrick Dewaere, and is one of his last films. He had appeared in Blier's films before, though never without Gérard Depardieu. Actress Nathalie Baye described her role as small, but said working with Blier and producer Alain Sarde was educational, and Blier managed to both listen to others while having a vision of what he wanted to shoot. Beau Pere also stars Ariel Besse in her first film role, and she was 15 at the time. Although she is nude in the film, her parents gave approval, saying she was treated sensitively. Besse secured the role after Sophie Marceau turned it down. Filming The scene in which Besse had to walk around naked, showing her buttocks, was not included in the script. At first, she did not want to play it, but in the end, she agreed, on the condition that Blier let the whole crew out. Release The film was entered into the Cannes Film Festival in May 1981. It had a total of 1,197,816 admissions in France, with Blier claiming the poster chosen by the distributor was awkward and discouraged the public from seeing the film. Besse's parents sued the distributors and producers over the poster, which shows Besse's breasts, as it was placed on