Taxi (I) (1998)

To work off his tarnished driving record, a hip taxi driver must chauffeur a loser police inspector on the trail of German bank robbers.

Director:

Gérard Pirès

Writer:

Luc Besson

Stars:

Samy Naceri, Frédéric Diefenthal, Marion Cotillard

3 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Samy Naceri	...	Daniel Morales
Frédéric Diefenthal	...	Émilien Coutant-Kerbalec
Marion Cotillard	...	Lilly Bertineau
Manuela Gourary	...	Camille Coutant-Kerbalec
Emma Wiklund	...	Petra (as Emma Sjöberg)
Bernard Farcy	...	Commissaire Gibert
Georges Neri	...	Joe
Guy Quang	...	Pizza Joe Motorcyclist
Maurice Murcia	...	Pensioned Taxi Driver
Sabine Bail	...	Femme Préfecture
Dan Herzberg	...	Paulo
Sébastien Thiery	...	Driving Instructor
Eric Bérenger	...	Butcher (as Eric Berenger)
Philippe du Janerand	...	Passenger to Airport
Christophe Fesquet	...	Flic Radar #1

Storyline

In Marseilles (France), skilled pizza delivery boy Daniel who drives a scooter finally has his dreams come true. He gets a taxi license. Caught by the police for a huge speed infraction, he will help Emilien, a loser inspector who can't drive, on the track of German bank robbers, so he doesn't lose his license and his dream job.

---

Plot Keywords:

pizza delivery boy | taxi | marseille | police | first of series | 

---

Genres:

Action | Comedy | Crime

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French German Korean Portuguese

Release Date:

20 November 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Taksi

Filming Locations:

Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France

Box Office

Budget:

FRF 53,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£45,337 (UK) (26 November 1999)

Gross:

£45,337 (UK) (26 November 1999)

Company Credits

Production Co:

ARP Sélection, TF1 Films Production, Canal+

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Even though they play a romantic couple that looks the same age, Samy Naceri was born 15 years before Marion Cotillard.

---

Goofs

When Émilien puts the police light on top of the car, he closes the door on the wire. When he pulls it back inside the car, he pulls it through the window, which he shouldn't be able to do.

---

Quotes

Émilien Coutant-Kerbalec: [after shooting against bandits that flee the warehouse] I'M OUT OF AMMO!
Daniel Morales: Who cares? Look at the room! There's no one here.
Émilien Coutant-Kerbalec: Oh my, they're gone!
Daniel Morales: 'Oh my, they're gone!' Let me ask you a question: Do your interrogations always end up like this, or are you just trying to impress me?
Émilien Coutant-Kerbalec: But no! I usually get to ask at least one question.

---

Connections

References Taxi, roulotte et corrida (1958)

---

Soundtracks

"Thème de Lilly"
by Akhenaton, La Cosca
piano: Pierre Acourt
saxophone: Alain Guillard

User Reviews

A most excellent film...

I bought this film by accident, not realising it was French, and when I did I just stuck it in a cupboard and thought I'd pass it off onto someone else. Some months later I actually open it up and stick it in, thinking I'd may as well see what I'd bought.

I am VERY glad I did, this film is excellent, and put me onto the path of discovering foreign cinema by starting at the best. Sure it may not have the high budget thrills that Hollywood seem to think are necessary in such films but for breathtaking action and some hilarious comedy moments Taxi is amazing. Filmed on location for a lot of it, there are some stunning shots of Marsielle, the marina and countryside etc.

So for brilliant action, comedy, and a fair bit of sexiness, Taxi is an ideal film. Tres bon!