Going Places (1974) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

Two violent drifters move through theft, coercion, sexual exploitation, and murder while their road journey continually expands.

Story Structure — 6 Plot Phases

Violence Takes the Road

Jean-Claude and Pierrot begin with assault, theft, and a stolen DS. A gun confrontation wounds Pierrot and brings Marie-Ange into their orbit.

Key Events

• Banlieue Assault — Jean-Claude and Pierrot assault an older woman, steal her purse, and flee. Characters: Jean-Claude, Pierrot Location: Banlieue
• Empty Purse — They loot the purse but find almost no money. Characters: Jean-Claude, Pierrot Location: Banlieue streets
• DS Joyride — They steal a Citroën DS for a joyride. Characters: Jean-Claude, Pierrot Location: City streets
• Owner Ambush — The owner confronts them with a gun; Pierrot is shot and Marie-Ange is taken. Characters: Jean-Claude, Pierrot, Marie-Ange Location: Outside the DS
• Mechanic Exchange — They exchange the DS for another car and leave Marie-Ange with the mechanic. Characters: Jean-Claude, Pierrot, Marie-Ange Location: Car mechanic's garage

Flight and Exploitation

The pair force medical treatment, exchange cars, and sabotage the DS. They evade police while repeatedly exploiting Marie-Ange and seeking refuge.

Key Events

• Forced Medical Treatment — At gunpoint, they force a doctor to treat Pierrot's superficial wounds, then steal money. Characters: Jean-Claude, Pierrot Location: Doctor's office
• Sabotaged Steering — They sabotage the DS steering before returning it and obtain Marie-Ange's address. Characters: Jean-Claude, Pierrot, Marie-Ange Location: Car mechanic's garage
• Country Escape — They steal bicycles and a car while moving through the country. Characters: Jean-Claude, Pierrot Location: Countryside
• Train Flight — Seeing police at a train crossing, they abandon their car and board an almost empty train. Characters: Jean-Claude, Pierrot Location: Train crossing and train
• Coastal Hideout — They evade police and break into a vacation home for shelter. Characters: Jean-Claude, Pierrot Location: Deserted coastal resort
• Jacqueline's Bathing Suit — They find Jacqueline's bathing suit and speculate about the girl who owns it. Characters: Jean-Claude, Pierrot Location: Vacation home

Marie-Ange's Resistance

Their return to Marie-Ange produces further coercion and a violent shooting at her workplace. Their attempts to control sexual encounters continue to fail emotionally.

Key Events

• Jacqueline's Bathing Suit — They find Jacqueline's bathing suit and speculate about the girl who owns it. Characters: Jean-Claude, Pierrot Location: Vacation home
• Marie-Ange Returns — They return to Marie-Ange and force sex; she says the DS has been sold. Characters: Jean-Claude, Pierrot, Marie-Ange Location: Marie-Ange's residence
• Salon Shooting — Marie-Ange resists at the salon, so they shoot her leg and leave her bound. Characters: Jean-Claude, Pierrot, Marie-Ange Location: Hair salon

A Brief Intimacy

Jean-Claude and Pierrot recruit Jeanne and experience an apparently passionate interlude. Jeanne's suicide abruptly turns the encounter into another flight.

Key Events

• Jeanne Joins Them — They approach a released prisoner, give her money, and persuade her to travel with them. Characters: Jean-Claude, Pierrot Location: Prison entrance and roadside
• Hotel Tragedy — After a passionate night, Jeanne shoots herself; they take the gun and her belongings. Characters: Jean-Claude, Pierrot Location: Hotel

Murder and More Roads

They deceive Jacques, whose meeting with a prison warden ends in murder. Marie-Ange chooses to remain with them as the group continues stealing cars.

Key Events

• Jacques Deception — They use Jeanne's correspondence to deceive Jacques and bring him to Marie-Ange. Characters: Jean-Claude, Pierrot, Marie-Ange Location: Cottage
• Warden Murder — Jacques shoots the warden, and Jean-Claude, Pierrot, and Marie-Ange flee. Characters: Jean-Claude, Pierrot, Marie-Ange Location: Warden's house
• Marie-Ange Chooses Flight — Although they consider leaving her behind, Marie-Ange refuses and continues with them. Characters: Jean-Claude, Pierrot, Marie-Ange Location: Road

Jacqueline on the Run

The travelers exchange cars with a family and take Jacqueline after a conflict with her father. They have sex with her, leave her roadside, and continue on.

Key Events

• Family Car Exchange — They force a family to exchange its new DS for their older stolen car. Characters: Jean-Claude, Pierrot, Marie-Ange, Henri, Jacqueline's father Location: Countryside road
• Jacqueline Joins Road — After her father strikes her, Jacqueline begs to leave with the travelers. Characters: Jean-Claude, Pierrot, Marie-Ange, Henri, Jacqueline's father Location: Countryside road
• Final Sexual Encounter — They discover Jacqueline is a virgin, have sex with her, and identify her from the bathing suit. Characters: Jean-Claude, Pierrot, Marie-Ange, Henri, Jacqueline's father Location: Stolen DS
• Roadside Abandonment — They leave Jacqueline by the roadside and continue traveling together. Characters: Jean-Claude, Pierrot, Marie-Ange, Henri, Jacqueline's father Location: Roadside

Story Breakdown

• Criminal Beginnings — Jean-Claude and Pierrot establish their violent partnership through theft and assault.
  • Banlieue Assault — They assault an older woman and steal her purse.
  • Stolen DS — They take a Citroën DS for a joyride.
• Marie-Ange Captured — A gun confrontation brings Marie-Ange into the pair's increasingly abusive journey.
  • Owner Ambush — Pierrot is wounded and Marie-Ange is kidnapped.
  • Mechanic Exchange — The stolen DS is exchanged while Marie-Ange is exploited.
• Flight Through France — The fugitives use stolen vehicles and a train to evade pursuit.
  • Doctor Robbed — They force medical treatment and steal the doctor's money.
  • Train Escape — They abandon a car when police arrive and board a train.
• Escalating Abuse — Their attempts to control Marie-Ange produce repeated violence and disappointment.
  • Sabotaged Steering — They damage the DS before returning it.
  • Salon Shooting — They shoot Marie-Ange and leave her bound.
• Jeanne's Tragedy — A brief relationship with Jeanne ends in suicide and another theft.
  • Prison Release — They persuade Jeanne to travel with them.
  • Hotel Suicide — Jeanne kills herself after their night together.
• Murderous Consequences — Jeanne's belongings lead the pair to Jacques and a fatal encounter.
  • Jacques Deceived — They falsely claim Jeanne sent them to help him.
  • Warden Shot — Jacques shoots the prison warden during a robbery.
• Jacqueline's Detour — The fugitives take Jacqueline into their group before abandoning her.
  • Family Car Trade — They force a family to exchange its new DS.
  • Roadside Departure — They have sex with Jacqueline and leave her behind.

Directed by

Bertrand Blier

Key Cast

• Gérard Depardieu — Jean-Claude
• Miou-Miou — Marie-Ange
• Patrick Dewaere — Pierrot
• Jeanne Moreau — Jeanne Pirolle
• Christian Alers — Henri, Jacqueline's father