Going Places

Going Places

Year: 1974

Runtime: 117 mins

Language: French

Director: Bertrand Blier

ComedyDrama

Two aimless, whimsical thugs wander a city, harassing women, stealing and murdering, then alternately charming, fighting, or fleeing. They seize what the bourgeoisie values—cars, peace of mind, even daughters. Marie‑Ange, a weary hairdresser, becomes their lover, cook and confidante while pursuing her own quest for sexual fulfillment.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Going Places (1974)

Trace every key event in Going Places (1974) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Purse theft after assault

They harass and sexually assault an older woman in a banlieue, steal her purse, and flee from pursuing witnesses. They search the purse and are disappointed to find almost no money.

banlieue
2

Car theft and confrontation with owner

They steal a Citroën DS for a joyride. When they bring it back at night, the owner waits with a gun drawn. Pierrot tries to flee but is shot in the groin. Jean-Claude overpowers the owner, steals the gun and the car, and abducts Marie-Ange.

night owner's street/outside the owner's home
3

Exchange DS with a mechanic

After picking up Pierrot, they drive to a car mechanic they know to exchange the stolen DS for another car. They offer the mechanic the chance to rape Marie-Ange as a condition of the exchange.

mechanic's workshop
4

Forced medical treatment and robbery

Leaving with the other car, they force a doctor at gunpoint to treat Pierrot's wounds, which are superficial. They steal the doctor's money and flee.

doctor's office
5

Mechanic's outrage and plan to sabotage car

Back at the mechanic's workshop, he is angry that Marie-Ange was passive during the assault. Pierrot fears the injury may render him impotent and suggests sabotaging the steering of the DS before returning it to the owner, hoping for an accident. They go through with the plan and release Marie-Ange, but they obtain her address.

mechanic's workshop
6

Flight by train; odd moment on train

They head to the countryside, stealing bicycles and a car from locals. At a train crossing they spot approaching police and flee their car, boarding an almost empty train. They meet a young woman who is breastfeeding her child and force Pierrot to suckle; the three kiss before the woman departs at a station with her husband. Pierrot laments that he cannot get an erection.

train carriage
7

Deserted coastal resort and Jacqueline

Following the police, they lie low at a deserted coastal resort and break into a vacation home. They discover the family’s daughter Jacqueline and enthusiastically smell her bathing suit, guessing she is around 16.

deserted coastal resort / vacation home
8

Return to Marie-Ange; forced sex and sabotage news

They return to Marie-Ange and force her to have sex with both of them, during which Pierrot finally achieves an erection. Marie-Ange again remains passive, and she tells them that the car owner has sold the sabotaged DS.

with Marie-Ange
9

Hair salon break-in; Marie-Ange shot

With Marie-Ange's help, they break into the hair salon where she works. When she resists and pleads to be kissed, they shoot her in the leg and leave her bound to a chair.

hair salon
10

Jeanne joins; hotel sex; suicide

After failing to seduce other women, they target Jeanne, a woman released from prison. They lure her with money, take her to the beach for an oyster dinner, and check into a hotel for passionate sex. While Jean-Claude and Pierrot sleep, Jeanne commits suicide, taking the gun and her belongings and they flee the hotel.

hotel; beach
11

Jacques released; Marie-Ange plan

They learn Jeanne has a son named Jacques who is in jail. Weeks later, Jacques is released and they tell him Jeanne asked them to help him in Portugal. They bring Jacques to a cottage where Marie-Ange is waiting and encourage him to have sex with her, which she says is driven by his timidity.

weeks later cottage
12

Jacques leads robbery; warden killed; road sex

They accompany Jacques as he proposes robbing an elderly person. They go to a house where a warden welcomes them, but Jacques shoots him. Jean-Claude and Pierrot flee with Marie-Ange, steal another car, and during the drive, Marie-Ange has sex with each of them.

warden's house and road
13

Final hijinks; Jacqueline revealed and abandoned

Having learned they are wanted for murder, they decide to leave Marie-Ange behind, but she refuses. They continue stealing cars and hitch-hiking until they force a countryside family to swap their old Citroën for a new DS identical to the sabotaged one. The daughter, Jacqueline, begs to join but they discover she is a virgin and smell her; they drop her off on the roadside and drive on.

countryside / roadside

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:10

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Going Places Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Going Places

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Going Places

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More About Going Places

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