La vie est un long fleuve tranquille (1988)

Two babies are switched at birth. When the mistake is discovered 12 years later, it leads to complications in the lives of both families. One family is affluent, with dutiful and (... See full summary »

Director:

Étienne Chatiliez

Writers:

Étienne Chatiliez, Florence Quentin

Stars:

Benoît Magimel, Valérie Lalande, Tara Römer

4 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Benoît Magimel	...	Momo Groseille
Valérie Lalande	...	Bernadette Le Quesnoy
Tara Römer	...	Million Groseille (as Tara Romer)
Jérôme Floch	...	Toc-Toc Groseille
Sylvie Cubertafon	...	Ghislaine
Emmanuel Cendrier	...	Pierre Le Quesnoy
Guillaume Hacquebart	...	Paul Le Quesnoy
Jean-Brice Van Keer	...	Mathieu Le Quesnoy
Praline Le Moult	...	Emmanuelle Le Quesnoy
Axel Vicart	...	Franck
Claire Prévost	...	Roselyne Groseille
Hélène Vincent	...	Madame Marielle Le Quesnoy
André Wilms	...	Monsieur Jean Le Quesnoy
Christine Pignet	...	Madame Groseille
Maurice Mons	...	Monsieur Groseille

Storyline

Two babies are switched at birth. When the mistake is discovered 12 years later, it leads to complications in the lives of both families. One family is affluent, with dutiful and (apparently) contented children. The other family is poor, with rambunctious (even delinquent) children, often hungry, but with lots of laughter in the house.

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Plot Keywords:

switched at birth | teenage girl in underwear | flanders | ravioli | monday | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

France

Language:

French English

Release Date:

3 February 1988 (France)

Also Known As:

A Vida é um Longo Rio Tranquilo

Box Office

Gross:

$194,456 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC), France 3 Cinéma, Investimage

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

France's most successful movie of 1988

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Connections

Referenced in Merci pour le chocolat (2000)

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Soundtracks

"C'est comme ça"
Written and Composed by Les Rita Mitsouko
Performed by Christine Pignet and Claire Prévost

User Reviews

Now out on DVD in France

At last, this little gem of a film is available on DVD (only in French, no subtitles, but it is, in any case, a difficult film to enjoy other than in French), together with 2 hours of additional interviews.

This film is a wicked little satire on the differences (and, below the surface, the similarities) between the bourgeois LeQuesnoy family and the wastrel Groseille family. The artifice used is the switching of two children at birth by the unhappy mistress of the gynaecologist.

For many of the actors and the director, this was their first film, providing a stepping stone for greater things. But "La Vie est un Long Fleuve Tranquille" should not be missed. Many of its little jokes became catchphrases in the France of the eighties and early nineties, so cruelly apt were they.

And do not miss Etienne Chatiliez's later films, particularly "Tatie Danielle" et "Le Bonheur est dans le Pre".

You might not enjoy this film - some people clearly haven't. But I recommend you make the effort to decide for yourself. It will be worth it.