Le père Noël est une ordure (1982)

Director:

Jean-Marie Poiré

Writers:

Josiane Balasko (writer)
Marie-Anne Chazel (writer)

Release Date:

25 August 1982 (France)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Félix, disguised as Father Christmas, hands out leaflets advertising a sexy Christmas party. His place is taken by an African Santa Claus and he returns to his caravan only to find his girlfriend Josette about to leave him. When he comes after her, she takes refuge at "SOS Distress", run by two neurotics, Thérèse and Pierre.

Plot Keywords:

Christmas | Santa Claus | Father Christmas | Ensemble | Strait Jacket

Cast

Anémone	...	Thérèse
Josiane Balasko	...	Madame Musquin
Marie-Anne Chazel	...	Zézette (épouse X)
Christian Clavier	...	Katia
Gérard Jugnot	...	Félix
Thierry Lhermitte	...	Pierre Mortez
Bruno Moynot	...	Zadko Preskovic
Martin Lamotte	...	Mr. Leble
Jacques François	...	Le pharmacien
Claire Magnin	...	Madame Leble
Michel Blanc	...	Voix au téléphone
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jeannette Batti
Pierre Belot
Suzanne Berthois
Michel Bonnet	...	Suicidé au téléphone
Jean-Claude Bouillaud
Jean-Pierre Clami
Jacques Disses
Josy Lafont
Roger Mabilat
François Rostain
Bhime Souaré		(as Bhime)
Gérard Thirion

Also Known As:

Santa Claus Is a Stinker (USA) (informal literal English title)

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 | France:U

Company:

Trinacra Films

Trivia:

Because of the offensive title, the RATP (Paris subway company) and Paris mayor's office refused to hire out billboards for the poster.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Incognito (2009)

Soundtrack:

Destinée

The very best french movie around

Everyone in France knows this movie by heart. Sure, most jokes must be very hard to translate, and may seem very rude (Je t'encule, Thèrèse !), but there is quite a solid story, the acting is excellent and Jean Marie Poiré is at his best. Even Michel Blanc who is not appearing in the movie ( only a voice on phone) is good. The dreaded Anemone is really fun (once in her life) and for Josiane Balasko it is her very best movie ( except maybe for "les hommes préfèrent les grosses"). Not to mention the wonderful Bruno Moynot and Martin Lamotte. Too bad we don't see them more often on the screen. Too bad, too, France will never more produce such jewel, but annoying Asterix, and other visitors. Looks like Christian Clavier by itself is no fun and Alain Chabat is not very good ( I never liked him, nor "les nuls". Le père Noël may be qualified minimalist, or cheap production, but it is THE french movie of the 20th century. I gave it a 10, and I'm going to watch it one more time ( maybe the 200th time)