“A Matter of Resistance” (城の生活), Original Japanese Movie Poster 1967, Catherine Deneuve / Philippe Noiret, B2 Format (c. 51 × 73 cm) — U31

This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster for the 1967 Japanese release of A Matter of Resistance, originally titled La Vie de château. Released in Japan as 城の生活 (Shiro no Seikatsu, “Castle Life”) on 2 December 1967, the French romantic comedy was distributed locally by Columbia Pictures. The design places Catherine Deneuve’s portrait at the centre of its appeal.

Directed by Jean-Paul Rappeneau, the film stars Catherine Deneuve and Philippe Noiret, alongside Pierre Brasseur and Henri Garcin, with music by Michel Legrand. Set in Normandy in June 1944, it follows Marie, a young wife who dreams of escaping provincial life for Paris. The arrival of a French Resistance fighter complicates her marriage, bringing romantic rivalry into the days surrounding the Allied landings.

Printed on one B2 sheet, the composition is dominated by an enormous, softly coloured photographic portrait of Deneuve. Her lowered gaze and golden hair stand against a dark, cloud-filled sky, where aircraft silhouettes and descending parachutes introduce the wartime setting. The scale of the portrait gives the poster an intimate, contemplative character.

Along the bottom, an embracing couple appears beside the Arc de Triomphe, linking the romantic imagery to Marie’s longing for Paris. Smaller military scenes and a group of three figures occupy the lower-right corner, providing a compact counterpoint to the portrait above.

The Japanese title 「城の生活」 stretches across the lower portion in flowing orange-red lettering with a fine pale outline. Blue cast credits sit beneath it, followed by the director, composer, and Columbia credits. A small asterisk highlights the film’s Louis Delluc Prize, awarded for 1965.

The pink promotional line above the title reads:

「思いっきり愛したい―ノルマンディの森にそよ風が吹くとき、可愛いマリーの瞳がぬれる」
“I want to love with all my heart—when a gentle breeze blows through the forests of Normandy, lovely Marie’s eyes fill with tears.”

The combination of expressive portraiture, romantic imagery, and delicate lettering makes this an especially appealing example for collectors of Catherine Deneuve, Jean-Paul Rappeneau, French cinema, and Japanese film poster design of the 1960s.

Condition: Excellent+. Minor handling creases and light age toning are visible, particularly on the reverse. The front retains clear detail and attractive colour.

Please review all photographs, including the reverse, as they show the exact poster for sale.

B2 format: approximately 51 × 73 cm.
Stock code: U31.

It is not a reproduction or a reprint.

Certificate of Authenticity included.

About Japanese B2 posters
Japanese B2 posters, typically measuring around 51 × 73 cm, were a standard format for theatrical advertising. Designed for temporary cinema display, surviving examples preserve the distinctive artwork, typography, and promotional approaches of their original Japanese releases.