Teräsvaari

The "viager" subject ,that is to say to sell a house in return for a life annuity is given a tremendous treatment by Pierre Tchernia, then the host of a very popular TV broadcast for cine buffs :"Monsieur Cinéma".

It was his first effort and it's thoroughly enjoyable,from start to finish: never a dull moment ,plenty of sudden new developments and a bevy of excellent actors: Michel Serrault as the owner of the house who does not want to die ,Michel Galabru as the mischievous doctor who urges his self-conscious brother to buy this nice place in Saint-Tropez for his patient will die "within two years". The stellar cast includes Rosy Varte as the authoritarian wife, Yves Robert as the failed navy officer turned person who rents out pedalo boats , Claude Brasseur as the shameless son , Jean Carmet as the alcoholic lawyer who wins his first case before dying of a heart attack ,and even Noel Roquevert in the last part of a career which spans half a century !

Helped by René Goscinny , who created worldwide famous comic character Astérix Le Gaulois, Tchernia came up with riotously funny lines, full of black humor and a story which spans 40 years , using historic events with skill (although informing was mainly frequent in the occupation days so the lieutenant commander 's scene becomes almost prophetic.)

All the hypocrit family 's attempts to do away with this man who clings to the tree of live backfires on them : they unwittingly make their victim a resistance fighter hero; and all along these forty years , he calls them "his dear family ,his benefactors ". And this annuity index-linked to the aluminum rate !

It's a joyful comedy ,but with noir undertones:the doctor 's political ideas are not particularly enthusing .Perhaps inspired by a Maupassant 's short story :"le petit fût".