The Decline of the American Empire

The Decline of the American Empire

A spontaneously funny sex comedy!

1986101 min6.7 / 10

A witty, conversational ensemble comedy that uses frank discussion of sex and relationships to explore desire, connection, and the gap between male and female perspectives.

Four very different Montreal university teachers gather at a rambling country house to prepare a dinner. Remy (married), Claude (a homosexual), Pierre (involved with a girlfriend) and Alain (a bachelor) discuss sex, the female body and their affairs with them. Meanwhile, their four female guests, Louise (Remy's wife of 15 years), Dominique (a spinster), Diane (a divorcée) and Danielle (Pierre's girlfriend) are spending the time at a downtown health gym. They also discuss sex, the female body and, naturally, men. Later in the evening, they finally meet at the country house and have dinner. A ninth guest, named Mario, who used to know Diane, drops in on the group for some talk and has a surprise of his own.

Essence

Ensemble

Closest match

Nearest across the full emotional profile.

Hidden gem

Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.