Les Valseuses (1974)

Les Valseuses (Going Places, 1974) is an illustrative experience. The French film is a road movie journey of two befriended male criminals, played by Gérard Depardieu and Patrick Dewaere, who along their path commit a series of crimes presented through a focus on their careless, perhaps slightly nihilistic mindset. Though meant as criticism of the changing climate (the sexual morals) of the 1960s and seeing it as a time capsule, there is still a lot of value in watching and appreciating the film.

Serge Gainsbourg declined to score the movie before Stéphane Grapelli signed on because he thought it was too obscene. Grappelli, a well-known French jazz musician best renowned for his gipsy violin music reflects the state of mind of the characters and the era through continuous melody and improvisation. Despite what the characters undertake – there is quite a dose of abuse and violence, and female character strawling along – the music is mostly frivolous and carefree and contains little dramatic reflection, coinciding with the film. For the approach, Grapelli performed the solo violin, aided by other musicians on bass, drums, guitar and the organ.

Its music must be seen as the colouring of a non-professional film composer, of a state of mind, which is captivating in context but without any deeper musical ideas. Stéphane Grappelli's score for the film Milou en mai (1990) is different but still very much rooted in the traditions of a non-composer. In Les Valseuses, it at least provides a score aiding the context of the film severely, which is better.




Tracklist
1. Ballade (4:10)
2. Jeanne I (1:46)
3. Jeanne II (Scène d'amour) (1:56)
4. Rolls I (2:52)
5. Poursuite (1:16)
6. Rolls II (1:16)
7. Ballade (Générique du fin) (3:47)

Total Duration: 17:03



(09-05-2026)