Le zèbre (1992) User Reviews

Jean Poiret played "the zebra" until the end

[dbdumonteil · 7/10 · 17 April 2003]

Jean Poiret was an outstanding character for the French cinema. He was both a scriptwriter and especially an actor. "Le Zèbre" remains his sole movie (he died of a heart attack a short time afterwards the end of the shoot) and a truly success.

Based on a novel written by Alexandre Jardin, the action takes place in a small town, somewhere in France. A notary (Thierry Lhermitte) is married to a French teacher (Caroline Cellier). Because he doesn't want their love to become common, he's playing "the zebra". It means that he's playing plenty of tricks. He even plays the role of a mysterious lover who's sending to Caroline inflamed letters...

The movie starts on a comedy tone and makes laugh due to its zany humor comical situations, sometimes on the edge of the absurd. This is also a movie that surprises because it goes on the opposite of love's clichés. Thierry Lhermitte never gives flowers to his wife, he never has sex with her and he never invites her for dinner. If he's turning into an original joker, it's because he wishes to protect as better as possible, his love towards Caroline Cellier. Poiret could skilfully link several film kinds in one movie. Little by little, the comic fades and makes room to the drama. Besides, the last minutes turn out to be very moving and sum up well the maxim: "don't rely too much on appearances". Poiret also knew how to hold the spectator breathless until the end of the movie where he proceeds to an unexpected conclusion concerning the mysterious lover with letters.

A zany and iconoclastic movie, rather well mastered.

Le Zèbre-This film about 'marriage' is the only film directed by noted actor Jean Poiret.

[FilmCriticLalitRao · 6/10 · 4 August 2013]

The divorce rate has risen alarmingly by around 40 per cent in the last decade in France as it is here that more than a third of marriages end in divorce. In such a sorry 'state of affairs' for marriage, it is heartening to note that a film has been made in France which talks about love and marriage and the impact which these concepts have on married people's lives. Le Zèbre/The Oddball is a joy to watch solely due to the presence of actors namely Thierry Lhermitte and Caroline Cellier. About Thierry Lhermitte, it can be said that like Gérard Lanvin before him, he could have been more far more popular as an actor outside of France if more challenging 'thinking man' type of roles had landed on his lap. The same thing can also be said about Caroline Cellier who played an important role in Chabrol's classic "Que La Bête Meure". It is rather unfortunate that not many challenging roles were given to her. It is through these two actors that we get a chance to know more about the status of marriage in French society. French actor/director Jean Poiret and his team of screenwriters ask whether a couple can lead a happy life after 15 years of marriage ? This question is raised as there are times when one gets the feeling that it is difficult to let the same passion of love continue in a marriage. However, despite its noble sense of purpose, this film suffers enormously as its protagonist employs crazy methods to ignite passion in his married life despite having good intentions in his mind.

The oddball cannot leave "well-enough alone".

[samyanari · 12 December 2002]

LE ZEBRE (The Oddball). Bittersweet romantic comedy about happily married Hippolyte (Thierry Lhermitte), a likable, clownish-yet-successful lawyer, and beautiful Camille (Caroline Cellier), a philosophy lecturer. Natalie and Lauren are their children. Hippolyte becomes overly obsessed, trying to restore passion into their marriage. He devises zany, secretive, amorous schemes to entice and arouse Camille. At first, she is flattered but confused, since she has many admirers. She then becomes irritated by the demeaning nature of his schemes. Gregoire (Christian Pereira), their close friend, often serves as an intermediary. Because of Hippolyte's capricious and somewhat sadistic nature, the ending seems inconclusive (at least to me). Possible sequel?, "Return of the Oddball"(?).

What's Gnu, Pussycat

[writers_reign · 8/10 · 30 September 2005]

In what turned out to be his only film - he suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after shooting it at the relatively young age of 66 - the well-established writer and actor Jean Poiret cast his wife, Caroline Cellier opposite Thierry Thermitte in a slightly bittersweet romantic comedy reminiscent of Billy Wilder's The Apartment in the way that Poiret skillfully segues from comedy to drama. The premise is simple: Hippolyte Pecheral (Thermitte) is a successful and slightly eccentric lawyer. He has been happily married to Camille (Cellier) for fifteen years and they have two teenage children. In yet another reference to an earlier film he begins to fear that such perfect love cannot last (see: The Hairdresser's Husband) and so he begins to actively play the Zebra (French slang for oddball)in an effort to keep the love fresh and ideally immortal. Attractive and highly desirable in her own right Camille has several overt would-be lovers, any one of whom could be the author of the billet-doux she keeps finding in strange places but her initial interest turns to annoyance when she is the only one to keep the suggested assignations. If you're in the right mood this is a delightful film that moves effortlessly from elation to despair and takes you right with it. It is a great pity that Poiret did not live to write and direct any more films as charming as this one.

Tremendously effective

[Tito-8 · 10/10 · 6 November 1998]

An outstanding film that gracefully makes the transition from wacky comedy to drama in the final minutes. Simply put, this film has it all, especially a large number of zany moments that should have you laughing out loud, but it's the sweet ending that you'll remember best once the film is over.

Misjudged French comedy.

[Mozjoukine · 18 July 2015]

Sascha Guitry actor and the original lead in CAGE AUX FOLLES, Poiret tries to put together something as quirky as those, in this story of Marriage Registrar L'Hermitte, who wants to keep his relationship with teacher-wife Cellier alive by kinky sex games.

The jokes are mainly unfunny and the attempt at a final twist is just weird. The piece plays off the charm of the leads and the glossy production values to little effect.

The scene where the masked man has his way of Cellier is quite erotic and out of character with the rest of the film and what do we make of the citation of LE COURBEAU, complete with letter fluttering into the church? A sad footnote to Poiret's acting career.