Jean Yanne Movies

A little philosophy can be a dangerous thing. Especially if it comes from the sudden blinding insights of the none too bright. Such insights, based upon totally illogical conclusions form the basis of this devilishly dark, distorted French absurdist comedy. At the beginning of the eccentric tale, a noted author deliberately drives his car into a brick wall, a suicide method employed by the protagonist of his last novel. Taxi driver Evangila and her brother North are deeply upset their favorite author's sudden death. They discuss the deeper implications of his act, and deduce that the author killed himself because he was increasingly obsessed with the notion that he was actually a character in someone else's novel. Finding their conclusion perfectly sound, the duo make the next logic leap and decide that they too are literary characters in someone else's book. That being the case, then all responsibility for their actions lies on the writer's shoulders, not theirs; therefore, they can do whatever they want with no consequence. Meanwhile the writer's bereaved widow, Karenina, decides she wants to join her husband in death. She makes several sucide attempts, but someone always 'rescues' her at the crucial moment. In desperation, she decides to simply leap from a tall bridge. As Karenina plots her demise, North and Evangela continue to wrestle with their newfound philosophy. The newest twist is that the author of their lives is in reality their god. Since he is the tangible, living being who dictates their every move, they decide to consult a priest in the hope that he can convince their Creator to meet them and answer a few burning questions. Unfortunately the priest can't help them and suggests that perhaps someone near death could provide more insight, someone about to commit suicide perhaps? Evangela and North, figuring a tall bridge is a good place to encounter a suicide immediately go to a certain bridge and end up meeting Karenina. When a spiritualist and God Himself get involved the story really goes off the deep end and that is when the fun really begins. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Based on a play by Sacha Guitry this romantic French comedy of manners sparkles and bubbles like freshly uncorked champagne. Set in Paris before the dawn of the Jazz Age and centers on the exploits of sexy, womanizing butler Désiré after he begins working for former actress and current mistress of noted local politico Montignac. For the summer, Désiré and the rest of the staff move the entire household to the seaside town of Deauville. Désiré inadvertently provides his colleagues with much mid-night entertainment with his loudly-voiced dreams of having sexual congress with the comely Odette. Unbeknownst to him, Odette has similarly enacted dreams about him, something Montignac finds more disturbing than funny. Both sides begin looking to a book that explains erotic dreams and the more they learn, the more uncomfortable they become in each other's presence until at last they decide to see if dreams can indeed become reality. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

This sumptuous French drama offers episodes from the notorious life of 18th century socialite and playwright Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais. The story begins in the 1770s with a rehearsal of his "The Barber of Seville." Young friend of Voltaire, Philipp Gudin introduces himself to the great playwright and offers to become his personal secretary. He then becomes the adventurous Beaumarchais' keeper as the author gets involved in a variety of situations including a duel with an angry husband, his battle with the corrupt French government and a serious long-term affair with Marie-Theres de Willer. It all comes to a climax when King Louis XV assigns the playwright a secret mission to London. There he must find and retrieve a damning document from transvestite aristocrat Chevalier D'Eon. Unfortunately, Beaumarchais gets tangled up with supporting American rebels and ends up tossed in jail. Louis XVI sees that he is finally released and then the writer becomes an arms smuggler for American revolutionaries. All of his activities bankrupt him and so Beaumarchais must return to writing plays. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In this beautifully mounted historical drama, Angelo Pardi (Olivier Martinez), an Italian soldier, is fleeing his country in 1832. After the fall of Napoleon, Austria is swooping down on Italy to take control of the nation, and like many patriots, Pardi is hoping to escape to France and fight for their freedom abroad rather than submit to Austrian rule. However, as Pardi discovers upon arival, an epidemic of cholera is sweeping the land, leaving death in its wake and causing most people to be fearful of strangers, who may well be infected. As he tries to outrun a trio of mercenaries who have been hired to take him back to Italy, he finds himself accused by a group of villagers of infecting their water supply. Trying to escape would-be captors on all sides and searching for refuge in a rainstorm, Pardi finds a house and takes shelter inside. Unknown to Pardi, Pauline (Juliette Binoche), the lady of the house, is at home, but to his pleasant surprise, she welcomes him cordially rather than sending him away. It seems that Pauline's husband is missing, and as she desperately wants to find him and Pardi needs to escape to friendlier circumstances, they travel together through the French countryside, hoping to avoid both the disease and the tragedy travelling in its wake. Reportedly the most expensive French production ever made at the time of its release, Le Hussard Sur Le Toit (released in the United States as The Horseman on the Roof) was nominated for ten Cesar Awards (the French Oscar); it won two, for Best Cinematography and Best Sound. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

After one of his superiors tries unsuccessfully to frame him, the formerly by-the-book honest cop Julien Segal (Patrick Bruel) turns to crime as the way to fight them back. Along the way he wins the partnership and love of the lovely Claire (Sandra Speichert), and cleverly makes life very uncomfortable indeed for his nefarious police supervisor Carre (Didier Bezace) and the supervisor's dope-dealing buddy Roche (Jean-Louis Tribes). It seems that Carre can't prosecute Julien for his crimes without coming under suspicion himself. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

This European buddy movie chronicles the relationship between a famed yet depressive hairdresser and the suicidal plumber who becomes his "adopted" son after he rescues him from a canal. Georges is the hairdresser who gained notoriety as a hairdresser to stars such as Grace Kelly, and Ava Gardner. His clients are all interesting. For example, there is the butcher who loves tall hair on his mistress' head, and a balding fellow who wants his remaining hair combed forward. Gus, after being mistreated in love, decides to end it all by jumping into a canal. Georges tries to save him and the soggy twosome become bosom buddies. Georges takes Gus to the Louvre where he critiques the hairstyles on the art work. After a peer breaks his arm, Georges agrees to take his place in the World Hairdressing Championships in the Czech Republic. Many surreal hairstyles are to be seen there, including replicas of the Eiffel tower, a battleship, and a burning building. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

A poor orphan grows up to be the toast of Paris when his quirky fashion designs become the rage. Filled with earthy, slapstick humor, this comedy chronicles his ride down the road of success. Fausto Barbarico (Ken Higelin) lost his folks during a biking accident and so was sent to a Paris orphanage. There he becomes best friends with Raymond (Francois Hauteserre), who, much to Fausto's delight, is a bad influence. Once he is of age, Fausto is sent to become the apprentice of Mietek (Jean Yanne), a kindly Jewish tailor who quickly becomes Fausto's mentor. Fausto has talent as a tailor and begins designing creative and kooky clothing as a way of promoting Mietek's shop. Romance comes for Fausto after he is asked to design a dress for the butcher's beautiful daughter. Trouble also arrives after Raymond suffers a terrible accident and is seriously injured while wearing one of Fausto's more outlandish designs. Originally released as Fausto, this film is known as A La Mode in the U.S. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide