So Long, Stooge (1983)

Lambert, a burned-out case, works the night shift at a gas station, rarely speaking, living alone, drinking. Bensoussan, raised in foster homes, now a small-time pusher for a bar owner ... See full summary »

Director:

Claude Berri

Writers:

Alain Page (novel), Claude Berri (scenario)

Stars:

Coluche, Richard Anconina, Agnès Soral

5 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview:
Coluche	...	Lambert
Richard Anconina	...	Bensoussan
Agnès Soral	...	Lola (as Agnes Soral)
Mahmoud Zemmouri	...	Rachid
Philippe Léotard	...	Bauer (as Philippe Leotard)
Albert Dray	...	Sylvio
Mohamed Ben Smaïl	...	Mahmoud (as Ben Smail)
Pierrick Mescam	...	First client service station
Mickaël Pichet	...	Mickey (as Mickael Paul)
Vincent Michel Paul Filliatre	...	Momo (as Michel Paul)
Annie Kerani	...	Black Lady
Vincent Martin	...	Second customer service station

Storyline

Lambert, a burned-out case, works the night shift at a gas station, rarely speaking, living alone, drinking. Bensoussan, raised in foster homes, now a small-time pusher for a bar owner named Rashid, comes to the station needing a spark plug for a stolen Moped. He and Lambert connect somehow, and a few days later, they go for a drink. The young man is too cavalier, and when he swipes Rashid's fancy motorcycle a couple of times, he's expendable. Lambert decides to avenge the young man and seeks information from Lola, a punk who knew Bensoussan. With surprising perseverance, she pierces Lambert's shell; he starts to feel again, tells Lola his story, and finds new enthusiasm for life.

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Plot Keywords:

young man | punk | motorcycle | gas station | ex cop | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Did You Know?

Trivia

The title "Tchao, Pantin" became a very well-known expression in France to define a comedian's spectacular dramatic breakthrough, in reference to Coluche who only starred in comedies prior to the film and earned the César for his performance. The term can also be used in a derogatory way when a comedian's dramatic film fails to achieve the same success and then gets dismissed as a wannabe "Tchao pantin".

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Connections

Featured in Un jour, un destin: La face cachée de Coluche (2008)

User Reviews

special

a film noir. it is the most easy definition for a film who escapes to a clear verdict. because it is one of the films who, after the final credits, becomes a state of emotions. sure, the great merit has Coluche. but he is part of an impeccable story, simple, honest, touching, bitter, about friendship and errors of past, appearances and love, justice and purpose of a broken life. a film like a confession. about yourself and about the others. and about the need to escape from yourself doing the right things in the right manner. a story who becomes a state of soul. this is the most important thing for this film. and the basic motif for who it is different. special. a sort of masterpiece out by ordinaries rules.

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

21 December 1983 (France)

Also Known As:

Adiós, pelele

Filming Locations:

35 rue Charlot, Paris 3, Paris, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Renn Productions

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1