The Big Departure (1972): cast, story & where to watch
1972 · Film · ★ 6
Released in 1972, The Big Departure is a fantasy and drama film directed by Martial Raysse, running about 71 minutes.
What it’s about. This is the only feature directed by the famed French painter and sculptor Martial Raysse. In keeping with the revolutionary spirit of the time, the movie has no plot to speak of and appears to have been largely made up on the spot. We follow the cat man into a bizarre fantasy universe presented in negative exposure that reverses color values (black is white and vice versa) and written words. The cat man steals a car and then picks up a young girl he promises to take to “Heaven.” Heaven turns out to be a country chateau inhabited by several more animal mask wearing weirdoes...
Who’s in it. The Big Departure stars Sterling Hayden as M. Nature / The Leader, Anne Wiazemsky as Mona Lisa, Gilles Raysse as Caïn and Lucienne Hamon as Mme Nature, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.0/10, The Big Departure has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Big Departure page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Big Departure tend to enjoy The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The Green Mile, Spirited Away and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Big Departure (1972)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for The Big Departure change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is The Big Departure worth watching?
- The Big Departure holds an audience score of 6.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy fantasy and drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Big Departure?
- The Big Departure stars Sterling Hayden, Anne Wiazemsky, Gilles Raysse, Lucienne Hamon and Alexandre Raysse.