This is an extremely well made film full of wonderful performances and great direction. The problem is, explaining exactly why I enjoyed it isn't all that easy--much of due to the rather unconventional plot.
The film begins in 1936. A very ordinary and unassuming looking man named Pigoil is being interrogated by the police about a murder he apparently committed. The rest of the film consists mostly of events from the last half year that led to this killing.
Pigoil and his friends work at a theater in Paris that has seen better days. They put on a variety show but the show is abruptly cut short when an evil fascist mobster takes over the place and shuts it down--leaving everyone out of work. After months of looking for jobs, Pigoil is so frustrated that he decides he and his out of work friends will just squat--take over the empty theater and stage a revival. There is A LOT more to the film--including several key subplots just too complicated to explain in the review. Oddly, however, late in the film it suddenly becomes, briefly, a slightly surreal song and dance number--like you'd find in a 1940s musical! But, once again, there is SO MUCH to this film that it's just one you need to see for yourself.
Some might no enjoy the film's somewhat episodic style or not understand the historical context for the movie. After all, today few would realize that France and much of Europe (and even the US) were experiencing fascist nationalistic movements. And, at the same time, Communists were also making in-roads with the masses--very much like the crap that was going on in Nazi Germany at the time--just not as organized or militant.
Overall, this is a cute and well-made film--one you will enjoy if you just give it a chance--it sneaks up on you!
The film begins in 1936. A very ordinary and unassuming looking man named Pigoil is being interrogated by the police about a murder he apparently committed. The rest of the film consists mostly of events from the last half year that led to this killing.
Pigoil and his friends work at a theater in Paris that has seen better days. They put on a variety show but the show is abruptly cut short when an evil fascist mobster takes over the place and shuts it down--leaving everyone out of work. After months of looking for jobs, Pigoil is so frustrated that he decides he and his out of work friends will just squat--take over the empty theater and stage a revival. There is A LOT more to the film--including several key subplots just too complicated to explain in the review. Oddly, however, late in the film it suddenly becomes, briefly, a slightly surreal song and dance number--like you'd find in a 1940s musical! But, once again, there is SO MUCH to this film that it's just one you need to see for yourself.
Some might no enjoy the film's somewhat episodic style or not understand the historical context for the movie. After all, today few would realize that France and much of Europe (and even the US) were experiencing fascist nationalistic movements. And, at the same time, Communists were also making in-roads with the masses--very much like the crap that was going on in Nazi Germany at the time--just not as organized or militant.
Overall, this is a cute and well-made film--one you will enjoy if you just give it a chance--it sneaks up on you!