Back in Business (2017)

They say a mortician never goes out of business, but Zweck's funeral home seems to be an exception. Luckily, one good client finally comes along and things take a turn for the better...

Director:

Gérard Pautonnier

Writers:

Joël Egloff (scenario), Gérard Pautonnier (scenario)

Stars:

Jean-Pierre Bacri, Arthur Dupont, Olivier Gourmet

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jean-Pierre Bacri	...	Georges Bron
Arthur Dupont	...	Eddy
Olivier Gourmet	...	Edmond Zweck
Féodor Atkine	...	Simon Bartolo
Sam Karmann	...	Le prêtre
Philippe Duquesne	...	Le frère du mort
Marie Berto	...	Madame Bartolo - la veuve
Françoise Oriane	...	Madame Cisca
Clara Bekaert	...	L'enfant de choeur Pierre
Alix Bekaert	...	L'enfant de choeur Paul
Wim Willaert	...	Le patron du restaurant chinois
Simon André	...	Le pilier de bar
Jean-Pierre Denuit	...	Le médecin
Céline Lefèvre	...	La patiente
Andreas Perschewski	...	L'inconnu

Storyline

Looking at that lonely street in that Godforsaken town lost in the middle of nowhere, you would not say this is Christmas. Of course it is snowy and the cold is biting but where is the joy of Yule? Not in the Chinese restaurant where the (non Asian) owner keeps serving sake to the local barfly and to two or three other loners pretending to feel fine. Even less so at the funeral parlor across the street where business is more than quiet: for God's sake, why doesn't anybody want to die? Edmond Zweck, the undertaker, is like a bear with a sore head and Georges, his right arm, and Eddy, the junior employee are busy killing - time. But miracles happen at Christmas, don't they? For instance in that lonely street of that Godforsaken town. Edmond, Georges and Eddy are on the verge of despair when two people enter the parlor. A man has just died and his widow and her brother want Zweck and Company to organize the funeral. Hardly trying to hide their joy, they set off for the cemetery. But as ...

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Plot Keywords:

dark humor | first person narration | getting lost | dead body | presumed dead | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Did You Know?

Trivia

First feature length film of Gérard Pautonnier.

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Quotes

Zweck: There are only two persons essential in this world, the midwife and the sexton. The former welcomes you while the letter escorts you to the exit. Between them, people struggle to get by.

User Reviews

Ice cold

A film about funeral parlors and their services are always comedies or offbeat, weird films, not pure dramas. Because if they were genuine tragedies, there would be too many suicides among the audiences, where there is always people who are more or less depressed. In this black comedy, Jean-Pierre Bacri is of course at the right place, that's a pure role, performance for him. It suits him like a glove. Olivier Gourmet is also excellent in this story about two associates in a petty funeral parlor with many financial issues. Till one day, where a good opportunity arrives...But nothing will go as expect. You have here a pretty good time waster with some good surprises, especially at the end. From Bacri's character...

But that's not SIX FEET UNDER.

Details

Official Sites:

Diaphana [France]

Country:

France Belgium Poland

Language:

French

Release Date:

18 February 2020 (USA)

Also Known As:

Back in Business

Filming Locations:

Kraków, Malopolskie, Poland

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$878,645

Company Credits

Production Co:

Elzévir Films, Bactery Films, Compagnie Cinématographique, La

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1