The Lower Depths (French: Les Bas-fonds) is a 1936 French drama film directed by Jean Renoir, based on the 1902 play of the same title by Maxim Gorky. Its scenes contrast the life of the upper and lower classes to comedic effect. The film is an example of the poetic realism. It received the first Louis Delluc Prize in 1937. The National Board of Review in the United States considered it a Top Ten Foreign Film for 1937.