It is a pity that French press has always shown a kind of step brotherly treatment towards Patrice Leconte.There are not many cinema admirers who know that Patrice Leconte directed "Les Bronzés",an important commercial success in the history of French cinema.For French media,Patrice Leconte is a different kind of director as they don't consider him as an auteur in the strict sense of the word neither a popular cinema director.This is one of the reasons why his film "Les Grands Ducs" was not able to garner critical success upon its initial release in 1996.A good news for admirers of comedy films is that DVD release of "Les Grands Ducs" has given a new lease of life to Patrice Leconte and many other directors who have been unjustly poorly judged by press in France."Les Grands Ducs" is one of the best examples of filmed theater.Its director Patrice Leconte defends the cause of those innumerable talented actors who are forced to act in small roles which are badly paid.His film is a proof of the fact that art of theater is very much alive in France despite various economic upheavals which have cast their shadows on French culture.Patrice Leconte is really at ease when he directs his actors with such accurate precision that they make theater watching a pleasant visual experience.He has been able to elicit beautiful performances from experienced French actors Jean Rochefort,Philippe Noiret and Jean Pierre Marielle.These three giant figures of French cinema tell us what it takes to be "a Cachetonneur !".
