Monsieur Batignole (2002)

Director:

Gérard Jugnot

Writers:

Gérard Jugnot (scenario) &
Philippe Lopes-Curval (scenario) ...

Release Date:

6 March 2002 (Belgium)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

In 1942, in an occupied Paris, the apolitical grocer Edmond Batignole lives with his wife and daughter...

Plot Keywords:

Switzerland | Jewish Girl | Butcher | WWII | Occupation

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Jules Sitruk	...	Simon Bernstein
Gérard Jugnot	...	Edmond Batignole
Michèle Garcia	...	Marguerite Batignole (as Michele Garcia)
Jean-Paul Rouve	...	Pierre-Jean Lamour
Alexia Portal	...	Micheline Batignole
Violette Blanckaert	...	Sarah Cohen
Daphné Baiwir	...	Guila Cohen (as Daphne Baiwir)
Götz Burger	...	SS Col. Spreich
Elisabeth Commelin	...	Irène
Hubert Saint-Macary	...	Gendarmerie lieutenant
Daniel Martin	...	Brigadier Albert
Nadine Spinoza	...	Rachel Bernstein
Damien Jouillerot	...	Martin
Philippe du Janerand	...	Administrateur
Marie-Gaëlle Cals	...	Edwige

Also Known As:

On pouvait pas savoir... (France) (working title)

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

France

Language:

German | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:M | France:U | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Argentina:13 | Brazil:12

Filming Locations:

Le Bizot, Doubs, France

Company:

RF2K Productions

Goofs:

Continuity: When Pierre-Jean threatens Edmond with the cleaver, the blade is vertical in shots from the front but is horizontal in shots from behind Edmond.

Soundtrack:

Elle a tout

Terminal Cuteness

This movie suffers from terminal cuteness.. Even treating such a horrible subject, Gérard Jugnot does what he's been doing for over 20 years : playing and directing average french citizens facing not so ordinary situations(of unemployment in Une epoque formidable, of the sects in Fallait Pas, of being a father of a famous actress in Meilleur espoir Féminin...etc.,etc.). Treating in a comic way a serious subject.

This flick is plain silly...a long road to clichéness with an ability to open doors that have already been opened 50 years ago. The germans are bad, sex-crazed people.Deportation is horrible. Every french citizen was pro-german during the war and pro-De Gaulle in 1945. Daaah? The best part is when he's taking the 3 jewish children nearby the swiss border. The french people living there are supposed to have a strong accent (as the kids). But all the adults don't. It is simply both stupid and hilarious (but unintentionally, of course).

Because it wants to tell us about a tragic event and deliver a message of hope we're supposed to love the movie? Nah. It just falls flat on every level : ludicrous dialogues, comedy, drama, war, suspense (ooooohhhh, are the poor children going the get caught by the nasty nazi??? Nah.)...everything is over-demonstrative and SO predictable. This tearjerker is a huge success in France where most of the official critics just love that sense of cuteness. It is beyond redemption, really. This movie deserves a slap in the face to wake it up a bit...but no...terminal cuteness indeed.

And not even an accurate use of the Scope A.R to higher the note a bit. Pfff.

Superwonderscope says : 1