Going Places

Two loose-knit roamers carve a reckless path through the city, taking chances and flouting rules. They drift from petty theft to bold bravado, taunting those they pass and courting danger with a shrug. Their appetite for disruption extends to the comforts of the respectable world, as they seize cars, quiet confidence, and even the limits others pretend to cherish. Into this mayhem walks Marie-Ange, a tired, compliant hairdresser who finds herself drawn into their orbit. She becomes more than a bystander, acting as lover, cook, and confidant while wrestling with a craving for excitement that outpaces her ordinary life. The film treats their mischief with dark humor and a blunt, observational eye, never softening its edges for better or worse.

Directed by Bertrand Blier and based on a story by Philippe Dumarçay, Going Places arrived in 1970s French cinema as a bold boundary pushing collaboration that sparked debate and drew attention to its provocative approach within popular culture at large.

Box office data from 1974 is not readily available; the film had a release in France and abroad, but precise grosses are not well documented. Its provocative subject matter limited mainstream push yet it drew a curious festival crowd globally.

Going Places stirred controversy for its unapologetic flirtation with sexual politics and social defiance, becoming a touchstone for edgy French cinema of the era. The performances, especially by Depardieu and Miou-Miou, helped shape a harsher, more playful tone in later comedies. Its influence lingered on in later, edgier French comedies.

Critics were divided yet attentive, praising its audacity while noting its rough edges. The film examines desire, class and moral ambiguity with a blunt humor that refuses to moralize, leaving audiences to weigh charm against cruelty. Some hailed Blier's stance, others dismissed provocations, yet the film endures as a benchmark.