Mean Spirit (2003)
"Mauvais esprit" (original title)

Simon is a down-on-his luck artist who gets no breaks from any quarter. While out working as a street sketch artist, he stumbles across the construction site for a new museum that is very ... See full summary »

Director:

Patrick Alessandrin

Writers:

Patrick Alessandrin (adaptation), Laurent Chouchan

Stars:

Thierry Lhermitte, Ophélie Winter, Maria Pacôme

Cast

Credited cast:
Thierry Lhermitte	...	Vincent Porel
Ophélie Winter	...	Chrystèle Porel
Maria Pacôme	...	Belle-maman
Leonor Watling	...	Leonor
Clémentine Célarié	...	Béatrice Copy
Michel Muller	...	Simon Variot
François Levantal	...	Freddy
Lise Lamétrie	...	Geneviève
Colette Casside	...	La vieille dame
Matthias Van Khache	...	Sébastien Copy
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lola Casamayor	...	Lise
Tsilla Chelton	...	La dame à la boulangerie
Marie Collins	...	La fille à la poussette
Natalia Dontcheva	...	La nounou
Jorge Gago	...	Junior

Storyline

Simon is a down-on-his luck artist who gets no breaks from any quarter. While out working as a street sketch artist, he stumbles across the construction site for a new museum that is very obviously stolen from a design he created as an architecture student. Enraged, he storms into the office of architect Vincent Porel and demands an explanation, but is immediately hauled out by security. When the police arrive to arrest Simon, he makes a break for freedom, only to be accidentally struck down in the street by Porel himself. As Simon lays dying on the hood of Porel's car, his soul is transferred into the body of a newborn baby, none other than Porel's own son, born at that very instant. Remembering his past and realizing that he is now in the care of the man who stole his work and killed him, Simon resolves to make his new father's life hell.

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Plot Keywords:

baby | police | paris france | child nudity | kidnapping | 

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Taglines:

Chieur-né!

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site [France]

Country:

France Spain

Language:

French

Release Date:

5 November 2003 (France)

Also Known As:

Bastardo dentro

Filming Locations:

Consejeria de Medio Ambiente y Ordenacion del Territorio, Madrid, Spain

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$1,996,698 (France) (7 November 2003)

Gross:

$5,259,672 (France) (28 November 2003)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les Productions du 3ème Etage, Mate Producciones S.A., Vertigo

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

User Reviews

Not easy to make the baby the star...

The film proves that it is difficult to make a baby the real star of a film. The crew have made a remarkable effort (see the "making of" on the DVD) in preparing, casting and filming the little guys, but the film has lengths. The story is hold together by the off voice of the reborn "looser", which is sometimes very funny, but also equally annoying.

The cinematography and actors are first rate, the film might be appreciated by people who like the French cinema and love French humour.

The German title "der kleine Scheisser" seems more appropriate than either the French or English title, "Mauvais esprit / Bad spirit".