Belle de Jour (pronounced [bɛl də ʒuʁ]) is a 1967 surrealist erotic[3] psychological drama film directed by Luis Buñuel, from a screenplay he co-wrote with Jean-Claude Carrière.

Based on the 1928 novel of the same name by Joseph Kessel, the film stars Catherine Deneuve in the leading role, a young housewife who spends her midweek afternoons as a high-class prostitute, while her husband is at work.

[4] It co-stars Jean Sorel, and Michel Piccoli, and features Geneviève Page, Francisco Rabal, Pierre Clémenti, Francis Blanche and Georges Marchal in supporting roles.

Back in Paris, Séverine meets up with Renée and learns that a common friend, Henriette, now works at a brothel.

Haunted by childhood memories, including one involving a man who appears to touch her inappropriately, Séverine goes to the high-class brothel, which is run by Madame Anaïs, who names her "Belle de Jour."

Séverine decides to leave the brothel, with Madame Anaïs' blessing as she believes it is due to Marcel becoming increasingly jealous and demanding.

In an ambiguous ending which is hinted to be another of her fantasies, Pierre then gets out of the wheelchair, pours himself a drink and discusses holiday plans with Séverine.

In 1966, Buñuel was contacted by the Hakim brothers, Robert and Raymond, Egyptian-French producers who specialized in sexy films directed by star filmmakers,[7] who offered him the opportunity to direct a film version of Joseph Kessel's novel Belle de Jour, a book about an affluent young woman who leads a double life as a prostitute, and that had caused a scandal upon its first publication in 1928.

[8] Buñuel did not like Kessel's novel, considering it "a bit of a soap opera",[9] but he took on the challenge because: "I found it interesting to try to turn something I didn't like into something I did.

The website's critics consensus reads, "The radiantly filmed Belle de Jour entrances even as it resists easy interpretations.

[21] Michel Piccoli reprised his role as Henri, while Bulle Ogier replaced Catherine Deneuve as Séverine.

The books were later adapted into the 2007 TV series Secret Diary of a Call Girl starring Billie Piper as de Jour.