Les fugitifs (1986)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Francis Veber

Writer:

Francis Veber (written by)

Release Date:

17 December 1986 (France)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

The oddest "odd couple" from "Les Comperes" are back in a gag-filled comic masterpiece of role reversal and farcical misadventure.

Plot:

Coming out from jail, Lucas has decided to change his life and behave like a good citizen. But when...

Plot Keywords:

Heist Gone Wrong | Mute | Detective | On The Run | Fugitive

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Pierre Richard	...	François Pignon
Gérard Depardieu	...	Jean Lucas
Jean Carmet	...	Martin
Maurice Barrier	...	Superintendant Duroc
Jean Benguigui	...	Labib
Roland Blanche	...	Idriss
Anaïs Bret	...	Jeanne
Philippe Lelièvre	...	Adjoint de Duroc
Yveline Ailhaud	...	Femme-flic
Didier Pain	...	Maître-chien
Marc Adjadj
Alain Algara
Eric Averlant
Jean-Pierre Becker
Pierre Belot

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Bordeaux, Gironde, France

Company:

Fideline Films

Trivia:

Director Trademark: [Francis Veber] [François Pignon]features a likeable idiot called François Pignon.

Movie Connections:

Remade as Three Fugitives (1989)

Runaway Success

I'm in complete awe of Francis Veber as both a writer and a director. How he can continue to ring even more changes out of what is essentially a Johnny-one-note idea both amaze and delight. Here he is at it again and, for good measure, adds a soupcon of sensitivity into the mix. Maybe, as a previous commenter has stated, we should just bask in the invention, charm and acting skills on display and not attempt analysis. Depardieu is now, of course, arguably the best-known and best-loved contemporary French actor in the world by virtue, and rightly so, of his unsurpassed range rather than the occasional English-speaking role but Gene Wilder lookalike Pierre Richard is virtually unknown outside France - at least in England - which is sad. Now aged 70 he continues to work - not, alas, with Veber - and as I write is appearing on the Paris stage in a piece which translates to 'Fish Out Of Water', as good a description as any for the inept bank-robber he plays here, basically a nerd desperate to bankroll a cure for his young daughter, rendered mute since witnessing the death of her mother. As luck - or meet-cute scripting - would have it, ex-con Depardieu (he literally left the slammer minutes earlier) is in the bank when Richard holds it up and of all the hostages he COULD pick to help him getaway he picks Depardieu, natch. From then on it's business as usual, two opposites who attract the flics. Replete with both sight gags and verbal wit this is one to cherish. 9/10