Arlette Balkis Movies
- 1995
A beautiful and successful French doctor finds herself placed into an asylum after she tells her snooty family that she has fallen in love with a formerly comatose ex-boxer in this charming French comedy. Now Melanie's new lover, the pugnacious Raymond and his pal Riton, an ex-con, attempt to spring her so they can marry. Unfortunately, something goes amiss and Raymond ends up in the same institution. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1994
Neo-Naziism in modern France provides the framework for this evocative French drama based on a true story. The story begins in prison as Roland Resse is being beaten to a pulp by his peers. Resse's crime is not initially mentioned. How he came to be there provides the basis for the film. Resse was a shy and awkward boy when he went to a rural village in responds to a want-ad for farm hands. He is hired for a trial period by Madame Dietrich who sends him to Madame Martine to rent a room. Madame Martin attempts to help Resse become more sure of himself. Resse is a loner though and it is only after Dietrich demands he eat with the other help that he joins their table. He is a devout vegetarian. Roger becomes his friend. Roger is a racist who suggests Resse keep his opinions secret. Resse is eventually inducted into a nearby chapter of Neo-Nazis where he finds work. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christophe Garcia, Isabelle Sadoyan, (more)
- 1973
Proof of the success of French filmmaker Edouard Molinaro is the fact that several of his home-grown hits have been remade as American films. The most recent example of this is 1996's The Birdcage, a highly profitable reworking of Molinaro's La Cage aux Folles (1978). The director's 1973 comedy A Pain in the A... also went the Cage aux Folles route of enjoying worldwide popularity, then undergoing an Americanization process. In the Molinaro original, Lino Ventura plays a friendless hit man who holes up in an Italian hotel room, awaiting the opportunity to knock off his target, a mob witness. No sooner has Ventura drawn a bead on his would-be victim than he is interrupted by the comically suicidal Jacques Brel, who wants to jump from the open window in the assassin's room. The banter and byplay between Ventura and Brel is priceless, especially when veering towards the "sick" humor that Molinaro handles so well. Based on a play by Francis Veber, Pain in the A... was remade by Billy Wilder as Buddy Buddy (1978), with Walter Matthau as the hit man and Jack Lemmon as his unexpected guest. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lino Ventura, Jacques Brel, (more)
- 1972
In this wacky French spy comedy, the chief of the French secret service wants very much to keep his job and stoops to chicanery to prevent rivals from closing in. He points to a man chosen at random from a crowd of people (Pierre Richard), and identifies him to his rival as an important spy who must be followed at all costs. In fact, he is François, a bumbling, good-natured musician. However, his lack of any notable spy-like failings only serves to convince his watchers that he is more skillful and professional than they. At every turn, they redouble their efforts, leading to many absurd situations. For instance, they send a beautiful woman to try to get his secrets from him. Instead, convinced of his innocence, she falls in love with him. This extremely popular film became actor Pierre Richard's signature role, and he often used the character's name in other films. This was one of the first successful screenplays by Francis Veber, who went on to write the screenplay for La Cage Aux Folles and many other successful comedies. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pierre Richard, Bernard Blier, (more)
- 1960
The lighthearted comedy Zazie Dans Le Metro, an early directorial effort from Louis Malle, stars Catherine Demongeot as a 12-year-old girl named Zazie. Zazie is forced to travel to Paris when her mother wants to rendezvous with her lover. Zazie is left in the care of Uncle Gabriel (Philippe Noiret), an eccentric transvestite. Both with him, and on her own, Zazie meets a variety of unusual city dwellers, and gets into a series of misadventures that reach their greatest level of wackiness during a café food fight. The film is based on a novel by the distinguished French author Raymond Queneau. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Catherine Demongeot, Philippe Noiret, (more)
