Amor y paz

This movie directed by George Lautner is typical of this post 68 period, the peace and love and hippie generation. This plot is a tough critism oof those people, outcasts who could not fit in the modern surroundings. Here, you have actually gangsters, peasants - local red necks - and hippies. With the George Lautner's directing, those ingredients could only give a tremendous recipe. Before and after this film, you had peasants vs gangsters in LA HORSE and DES LOUPS DANS LA BERGERIE or TOTAL WESTERN; or peasants vs hippies in many movies too, for which I can't remember the titles. It's fun, entertaining, and as a lautner's film, where the hell is Miraille Darc?

Georges Lautner, famous French director of classic comedies such as "Les tontons flingueurs", "Les barbouzes" or latter, more serious work like Jean-Paul Belmondo dark actioner "Le professionnel" blends laughs, gunshots and pot-smoking hippies into a decent, sometimes even hilarious comedy where French rednecks and free-loving, bare-chested youngsters learn to go beyond their mutual dislike and live in harmony in a deserted village. But some mysterious events raise the awareness of the local police force and murder, gunfights and T&A ensue.

Some of the funny parts are a bit dated, but it's still both an enjoyable comedy with somewhat visionary scenes (like an hilarious criticism of placement product) and Lautner's direction is pretty solid, even 30+ years later. The acting is solid too, with many familiar faces (the late Paul Preboist as well as Andre Pousse, Henri Guybet and the great Michel Galabru) for those who know 70's French cinema... Oh, and did I mention many semi-nude scenes with gorgeous hippie girls? Not a masterpiece, not an exploitation flick either, but an enjoyable movie nonetheless.

What the squares thought the sixties were about , particularly the hippies -who in 1973 were already passé- The film fills his quota of long hair,sitar,transcendental meditation and singing Om ...But the villains are not them and a nice countess (played by veteran Renée Saint-Cyr) is on their side when her steward is murdered .Also notable for one of Miou-Miou's first appearances and the presence of Dani ,a pop singer of the sixties whose career was short-lived (but who made a comeback some years back).The film is never dull and is pleasant to watch ,if you do not ask too much.

That said ,as far as Lautner is concerned,you'll be better off with "Le Septième Juré" "La Route De Salina" or "La Maison Assassinée" which are not representative of his commercial stuff ,but which are infinitely more absorbing.