Le père Noël est une ordure (1982)

Two neurotics, working for a suicide hotline on the night of Christmas Eve, get caught up in a catastrophe when a pregnant woman, her abusive boyfriend, and a transvestite visit their office.

Director:

Jean-Marie Poiré

Writers:

Josiane Balasko, Marie-Anne Chazel

Stars:

Anémone, Josiane Balasko, Marie-Anne Chazel

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Anémone	...	Thérèse
Josiane Balasko	...	Madame Musquin
Marie-Anne Chazel	...	Josette
Christian Clavier	...	Katia
Gérard Jugnot	...	Félix
Thierry Lhermitte	...	Pierre Mortez
Bruno Moynot	...	Zadko Preskovic
Martin Lamotte	...	Mr. Leble
Jacques François	...	Le pharmacien
Claire Magnin	...	Madame Leble
Michel Blanc	...	Voix au téléphone
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jeannette Batti
Pierre Belot
Suzanne Berthois
Michel Bonnet	...	Suicidé au téléphone

Storyline

Félix, disguised as Father Christmas, hands out leaflets advertising a sexy Christmas party. His place is taken by an African Santa Claus and he returns to his caravan only to find his girlfriend Josette about to leave him. When he comes after her, she takes refuge at "SOS Distress", run by two neurotics, Thérèse and Pierre.

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Plot Keywords:

christmas | cult film | transvestite | black comedy | suicide hotline | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

28 December 2011 (USA)

Also Known As:

Santa Claus Is a Stinker

Company Credits

Production Co:

Trinacra Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The English translation of the films title is "Santa Claus is a bastard".

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Quotes

Zézette: Eh, Pierre ! Y a un monsieur très malpoli qu'a téléphoné, y voulait enculer Therèse !
Pierre Mortez: Oui mais cest un ami.
Zézette: Ah bah ça va alors.

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Connections

Referenced in Dead Tired (1994)

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Soundtracks

viens chez moi j'habite chez une copine
Written and Performed by Renaud

User Reviews

Santa Claus Is CUMMIN To Town

This is probably the first time I've read all the previous comments for a given movie and found not a single pan so far be it for me to go against the consensus. I've long been a fan of 'Splendid' both as a group and later as individuals (in fact I'm just about to add my comment on 'Monsieur Batignole' a comparatively new film by triple-threat Gerard Jugnot, the 'Felix' from pere noel) and this represents them at their very best, which is saying something indeed. I missed, alas, the original stage version of Pere Noel but the good news is it's now available on DVD so it's automatically on my 'must have' list. It's also going to be difficult to improve on the raves already posted here so really the best one can do is add to them. I think it's fair to say that this movie gives a new meaning to the old gag 'the Samaritans call ME', given that the main setting (it started out as a play, remember) is the run-down offices of SOS distresse amitie, the French equivalent of the Samaritans which is invaded - against the no-face-to-face contact Rule, natch, by three assorted fruitcakes - four, if you count Felix-and-how-could-you-not - the santa claus-suited, gun-toting boyfriend of the slightly enceinte Zezette (Marie-Ann Chaval). The most rational thing you can say about this is that it's difficult to separate the fruitcakes - Gerard Jugnot, Bruno Mayot, Marie-Ann Chaval, Christian Clavier, from the 'staff', Anemone, Thierry Lhermitte, Josiane Balasko, in fact the title of the pathetic American remake 'Mixed Nuts' says it all (but don't rush to see it, it's light years away from the original on the wrong galaxy side). Incredibly they pack all the mayhem into one hour twenty eight minutes and that includes the best part of a minute on Establishing Shots. To attempt to describe the labyrinthine plot is a new way to grow schizoid so suffice it to say this is THE surreal comedy they all have to beat. 10/10