Nana (1983)
A Cannon Group adaptation of Zola's classic novel, following a young woman's seductive rise through the pleasure houses of Paris.
Nana - Movie Information
- Original Title: Nana
- Release Year: 1983
- Directed by: Dan Wolman
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama, Comedy
- Runtime: 1h 32m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): June 13, 1983 (Finland)
- Alternative Titles: Nana, the True Key of Pleasure (US), 娜娜：快樂的真諦 (TW)
- Production Companies: The Cannon Group, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Golan-Globus Productions
- Production Countries: Italy
Nana - Plot
In Zola's Paris, an ingenue arrives at a tony bordello: she's Nana, guileless, but quickly learning to use her erotic innocence to get what she wants. She's an actress for a soft-core filmmaker and soon is the most popular courtesan in Paris, parlaying this into a house, bought for her by a wealthy banker. She tosses him and takes up with her neighbor, a count of impeccable rectitude, and with the count's impressionable son. The count is soon fetching sticks like a dog and mortgaging his lands to satisfy her whims.
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Nana - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Dan Wolman
Main Cast
- Katya Berger
- Jean-Pierre Aumont
- Yehuda Efroni
- Mandy Rice-Davies
- Massimo Serato
- Debra Berger
- Shirin Taylor
- Annie Belle
- Paul Müller
- Marcus Beresford
Writers
- Marc Behm
Producers
- Yoram Globus
- Menahem Golan
Nana - FAQs
What is Nana (1983) about?
Nana follows a young ingenue in Zola's Paris who arrives at an upscale bordello and swiftly learns to wield her charm and innocence as tools of power. She rises from soft-core actress to the city's most coveted courtesan, leaving a trail of besotted, ruined men in her wake.
Is Nana based on a famous literary work?
Yes, the film is adapted from Émile Zola's 1880 novel of the same name, part of his celebrated Rougon-Macquart cycle. Zola's Nana is a landmark of French naturalist literature, exploring class, desire, and the destructive power of beauty in Second Empire Paris.
Where can you stream Nana (1983)?
You can stream Nana on fuboTV, MGM Plus, MGM Plus via the Roku Premium Channel, and Philo — all available as part of their flat-rate subscriptions. It's a solid lineup of options, so finding a platform you already use shouldn't be too difficult.
Who plays Nana in the 1983 film?
Katya Berger takes on the title role of Nana, bringing a mix of guileless charm and growing cunning to the character. The supporting cast includes Jean-Pierre Aumont as the infatuated Count Muffat and Mandy Rice-Davies — the real-life figure from the Profumo Affair — as Sabine.
Did Ennio Morricone compose the score for Nana?
He did. The legendary Italian composer Ennio Morricone provided the film's score, lending his distinctive musical sensibility to the story's Parisian atmosphere. It's one of many collaborations Morricone undertook with Italian and international productions throughout his prolific career.
Who produced and distributed Nana (1983)?
Nana was produced by the Cannon Group under the Golan-Globus banner, with Yoram Globus and Menahem Golan serving as producers. The film was made in Italy and distributed with MGM involvement, reflecting the kind of international co-production that defined Cannon's output in the early 1980s.
What are some films similar to Nana (1983)?
If you enjoyed Nana, you might also like Chéri (2009), another period drama exploring desire and power between a courtesan and her younger lover, or Madame (2017) for its sharp social comedy set among the French elite. Both share Nana's blend of wit, sensuality, and class commentary.
How long is the 1983 film Nana?
Nana runs for 92 minutes — just over an hour and a half. It's a compact runtime that keeps the story moving briskly through Nana's rise in Parisian society without overstaying its welcome.
More About Nana
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