Mourir d'aimer

Mourir d'aimer (To Die of Love; Italian: Morire d'amore; English title To Die of Love) is a 1971 Franco-Italian film drama directed by André Cayatte. It is based on the true story of Gabrielle Russier.

The time is May 1968. Danièle Guénot, 32 years old and divorced with two children, is a politically engaged French and Latin teacher in Rouen who organises discussion sessions at her home. A 17-year-old student, Gérard Leguen, falls in love with her. She repulses him but eventually gives in to the mutual attraction. His parents complain, and she is sent to prison and he to other schools, relatives, and a psychiatric in-patient clinic. She eventually kills herself.

The film is based on the story of Gabrielle Russier, a 32-year-old divorced French teacher in Marseille who killed herself on 1 September 1969 after being found guilty of corruption of a minor. It was largely shot at Mont-Saint-Aignan and Rouen, with some scenes being filmed at Cluses.

The score is by Louiguy. The song "Mourir d'aimer" by Charles Aznavour was also inspired by Russier's story and appeared before the film, at the beginning of 1971, but Louiguy did not allow it to be used in the French soundtrack; it was included in some non-French releases, including the Italian and the American. It was also represented as "inspired by the film" on 45 rpm singles that appeared soon afterwards. The version used on the Italian soundtrack won a Golden Lion at the 1971 Venice Film Festival.

The song "De terciopelo negro" (black fur) by the Ecuadorian Jorge Araujo Chiriboga recurs several times in the film, performed by Carmela, with Paco Ibañez on guitar. It and "Partida" (Parting) were issued as singles.

The film was a success; 5 million tickets were sold in France. Annie Girardot's performance as Danièle was particularly praised. The reviewer for The New York Times praised the performances and wrote that the film "delves deeply and often movingly into the states of mind of both the obdurate lawmakers and the tragic principals."