Mourir d'aimer...

Immediate background:During the events of May 1968,Gabrielle Russier , a lit teacher ,fell in love with one of her students .His parents brought proceedings against her and she ended up in jail on a corruption of a minor charge.Out of despair,she committed suicide."L'affaire Gabrielle Russier "in the late sixties became a much debated subject :even such politicians as the late Georges Pompidou referred to it.

Enter André Cayatte ....

who was championing any cause going:from euthanasia to miscarriages of justice to death penalty .Gabrielle Russier's story was tailor made for him.And Annie Girardot was the ideal actress.

Girardot agreed and the movie was made.She was very convincing and managed to transcend Cayatte's academic direction.Charles Aznavour sang the title song.