La zizanie

Louis de Funés was a phenomenon of popularity in French and European cinema from 1964 until his death in 1983. Of Spanish-Portuguese descent, he first made a career as a jazz pianist, before making his acting debut at just 31 years old. He achieved great success, however, from 1964 onwards, already after the age of 50, playing comedy roles, mainly physical, with an always frowning, stubborn, grumpy air, with grotesque facial expressions, a kind of Scrooge in a burlesque version.

The character caught on and was explored to exhaustion, only to be interrupted by the premature death of the artist at the age of 68.

This film is yet another tailor-made comedy by the grumpy Funés, accompanied by Annie Girardot, in which they play a couple in a marital war, between the industrialist husband and the ecologist wife.

La zizanie is a classic Louis de Funès film that brings together humor, satire, and a surprisingly engaging storyline. In this 1978 comedy, Louis de Funès plays Guillaume Daubray-Lacaze, a factory owner who begins manufacturing pollution control machines in his small hometown. The twist? His own machines cause so much pollution that his wife, played by the brilliant Annie Girardot, decides to leave him. What follows is a hilarious battle of wits and wills between the couple, complete with de Funès' trademark comedic timing and physical humor.

The film is packed with funny moments, from Guillaume's desperate attempts to win back his wife to the chaos that ensues in the town due to his machines. The story is well-paced, and the humor feels fresh and inventive, even by today's standards. De Funès and Girardot have great chemistry, and their interactions add an extra layer of charm to the film.

La zizanie offers a perfect blend of slapstick comedy and clever satire on environmental issues, making it both entertaining and thought-provoking. It's a film that will make you laugh, think, and appreciate the genius of Louis de Funès. I give it a 9/10 for its humor, engaging story, and standout performances.

I think this movie is a brilliant example for a Louis de Funès movie. You can discover his typical way of acting. I consider it as one of the five best movies he has ever made. The plot is not the best at all but with his comedy talent he saves it to an upper level. There are some delicious scenes for example the one in the mayor's office where he gives us a view of his billiards play. Most other characters are not convincing although they try to do. If you concentrate you on the linguistic subtlety in some dialogues you will absolutely have fun.

The mayor of a French unnamed city, Guillaume Daubray-Lacaze (Louis de Funes) is also a bit of an inventor. His latest invention, a machine that makes all polluted air disappear, it is named CX22. Japanese business people are visiting the factory, hopefully they'll buy some machines.

Guillaumes wife Bernadette (Annie Girardot) helps her husband through thick and thin, arranges dinner, with a healthy amount of alcohol, to soften the Japanese. The plan works, the Japanese boss orders 3000 machines. Happiness all around.

But this big order really demands the factory to expand. Guillaume thinks that the production could just as well, also commence in the house. Soon the whole house are invated. Bernadette soldiers on supporting her husband through 23 years. Now even though that the bedroom also now is being part of production, the couple celebrate their wedding day.

The production still need to expand, and Bernadette is having a big garden, her love and pride. Together with his assistent L'imbecile (yes!) (Maurice Risch) Guillaume arrange the whole garden flodded with gasoline, which of course destroy all plants. That naturally is the point where Bernadette has had enough. She moves to a hotel.

As if this wasn't enough the following is about to happen: A very serious visit from the bank president (Daniel Boulanger), a rivalry with doctor Landry (Julien Guiomar), an upcoming mayor election with a tough TV debate. How will it all end?

The film is directed by Claude Zidi, who earlier has directed de Funes. He brings out the best in the two leads. Sometimes de Funes can be a handful, but he is a bit more gentle here, not that he is all normal! Definitely worth seeing.

There never was an actor like him in France: always nervous, on the edge of blowing up, vain, miserly... he can be a chore to watch, but sometimes he keeps you entertained with his frenetic neuroses. This time he's a rich industrial who has to expand his productive capacity when he gets a big order, and how he does it is a marvel to behold: he turns most of his house into a plant, with machines working day and night even in his bedroom. Annie Girardot as his wife has a few good lines; she lets him know his marriage is doomed if things don't improve at home.

This movie is like a tribute to Jacques Tati; maybe in some ways it's better than a typical Tati invention. The hijinks revolving around assembly lines are very funny. But the story is not interesting.