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Le Grand Role (2004)

Le Grand Role (2004)
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An actor who lands the role of his life is forced into an even greater real-life acting challenge in this comedy drama from France. Maurice Kurtz (Stéphane Freiss) is an actor who is passionately in love with his wife, Perla (Bérénice Bejo), and wishes he could provide a better life for her. Maurice and his friends Simon (Lionel Abelanski), Sami (Olivier Sitruk), and Edouard (Stéphan Guérin-Tillié) work for a company that dubs American films into French when they're not looking for acting work, and when they learn that famous American filmmaker Grichenberg (Peter Coyote) is coming to Paris to shoot a Yiddish-language version of The Merchant of Venice, they all show up at a "cattle call" audition hoping to land bit parts. To his great surprise, Maurice's reading wins him the leading role of Shylock, and he quickly passes the good news along to Perla. As it happens, Perla needs some good news -- she's just been diagnosed with cancer, and her doctor tells her she's not long for the world. Maurice is comforted by the fact that his good fortune is lifting Perla's spirits, so when Grichenberg recasts him a few days later with a major American star, Maurice and his buddies devise a variety of scams to convince Perla that her husband is still making the movie that will make him famous. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Starring:
Stéphane FreissBérénice Bejo, (more)
Director(s):
Steve Suissa
Theatrical MPAA Rating:
NR
Format(s):
DVD
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Synopsis of Le Grand Role

An actor who lands the role of his life is forced into an even greater real-life acting challenge in this comedy drama from France. Maurice Kurtz (Stéphane Freiss) is an actor who is passionately in love with his wife, Perla (Bérénice Bejo), and wishes he could provide a better life for her. Maurice and his friends Simon (Lionel Abelanski), Sami (Olivier Sitruk), and Edouard (Stéphan Guérin-Tillié) work for a company that dubs American films into French when they're not looking for acting work, and when they learn that famous American filmmaker Grichenberg (Peter Coyote) is coming to Paris to shoot a Yiddish-language version of The Merchant of Venice, they all show up at a "cattle call" audition hoping to land bit parts. To his great surprise, Maurice's reading wins him the leading role of Shylock, and he quickly passes the good news along to Perla. As it happens, Perla needs some good news -- she's just been diagnosed with cancer, and her doctor tells her she's not long for the world. Maurice is comforted by the fact that his good fortune is lifting Perla's spirits, so when Grichenberg recasts him a few days later with a major American star, Maurice and his buddies devise a variety of scams to convince Perla that her husband is still making the movie that will make him famous. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Theatrical Feature Running Time:
90 mins

Complete Cast of Le Grand Role


Director(s):
Steve Suissa
Writer(s):
Steve SuissaDaniel CohenDaniel Cohen
Producer(s):
Steve Suissa
Theatrical MPAA Rating:
NR(Adult Humor, Adult Language, Adult Situations)
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    Member Reviews
     
    Eric F.

    After the jaunty song that sets the tone over the opening credits, it's a bit disappointing when somber concerns intrude on the charming couple at the center of this French film. But perhaps that's the point: you never know what life's going to throw at you. The movie's depiction of the secular Jewish milieu refreshingly defies stereotypes, and the unpretentious, caring performances keep things from getting too sappy. [In French with subtitles.]

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    James V.

    A bit of French schmaltz about love, acting & movies, LE GRAND ROLE offers Stephane Freiss (Ozon's "5x2") another plum part, which he devours with relish. Solely for Shylock's monolog from Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice" that Freiss speaks (in Yiddish, yet, and he's absolutely splendid!), the movie is unmissable for fans of great acting. Peter Coyote does a nice turn, too, as a Spielberg-ian American director in Paris who's preparing to film a Yiddish version of "Merchant." Coyote captures the enormous ego of the guy, along with enough humanity at the right times to render him almost human. Berenice Bejo makes a lovely partner to Freiss, the sublime Francois Berleand is his frisky/nasty agent, & there's some nice work from the actors who play Freiss' infinitely supportive friends. This sweet, savvy movie about the acting profession in France is worth a watch, particularly if you are partial to--or active in--the performing arts.

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    Laurence G.

    It's a story of love and loyalty; the lengths that a man will go for the wife he loves who is dying, and the lengths that friends will go to one of their own. Well-told and well acted by the whole ensemble. Special appearances by Peter Coyote who also gives an unusually good performance. A film to watch on a quiet afternoon.

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