My American Uncle

Prof. Henri Laborit uses the stories of the lives of three people to discuss behaviorist theories of survival, combat, rewards and punishment, and anxiety. René is a technical manager at a textile factory and must face the anxiety caused by corporate downsizing. Janine is a self-educated actress/stylist who learns that the wife of her lover is dying and must decide to let them reunite. Jean is a controversial career-climbing writer/politician at a crossroads in life.

Gérard Depardieu

(René Ragueneau)

Nicole Garcia

(Janine Garnier)

Roger Pierre

(Jean Le Gall)

Nelly Borgeaud

(Arlette Le Gall)

Pierre Arditi

(Zambeaux, le représentant de la direction générale à Paris)

Gérard Darrieu

(Léon Veestrate)

Philippe Laudenbach

(Michel Aubert)

Marie Dubois

(Thérèse Ragueneau)

Henri Laborit

(Henri Laborit)

Bernard Malaterre

(Jean's Father)

Laurence Roy

(Jean's Mother)

Alexandre Rignault

(Jean's Grandfather)

Véronique Silver

(Janine's Mother)

Jean Lescot

(Janine's Father)

Geneviève Mnich

(René's Mother)

Maurice Gauthier

(René's Father)

Guillaume Boisseau

(Child Jean)

Ina Bedart

(Child Janine)

Ludovic Salis

(Child René)

François Calvez

(Teen René)

Stephanie Loustau

(Teen Janine)

Monique Mauclair

(Teacher)

Damien Boisseau

(Teen Jean)

Gaston Vacchia

(Henri, René's uncle)

Bertrand Lepage

(Maurice, René's brother)

Jean-Philippe Puymartin

(Jean jeune homme)

Catherine Frot

(Arlette jeune fille)

Valérie Dréville

(Thérèse jeune fille)

Brigitte Roüan

(Janine's Friend)

Max Vialle

(Jean-Marie Laugier, the director)

Yves Peneau

(Comedian)

Jean-Bernard Guillard

(Comedian)

Laurence Février

(Comedian)

Charlotte Bonnet

(M. Louis' Secretary)

Jean Dasté

(M. Louis)

Anne-Christine Joinneau

(Jean's daughter)

Sébastien Drai

(Jean's son)

Marjorie Godin

(Factory Secretary)

Liliane Gaudet

(Mrs. Arnal)

Isabelle Ganz

(Josyane)

Maria Laborit

(Jean's third secretary)

Albert Médina

(Bozon-Vandrieux)

Laurence Badie

(Mrs. Veestrate)

Carène Ferrey

(La première fille de René)

Sabine Thomas

(La seconde fille de René)

Catherine Serre

(La secrétaire de la direction générale)

Jacques Rispal

(L'homme bousculé par René)

Héléna Manson

(La logeuse de René à Cholet)

Serge Feuillard

(Le médecin des urgences)

Gilette Barbier

(Mme Landais)

Dominique Rozan

(Le sénateur)

Michel Muller

(Le garde-chasse)

Danielle Darrieux

(Self (archive footage))

Jean Gabin

(Self (archive footage))

Jean Marais

(Self (archive footage))