Les apprentis

Nice characters, funny and witty, that movie offers us a nice time. Not a bit pretentious,, this is not a great movie, but it is well made, well acted and show a good complicity between the 2 main characters.

"Antoine" (François Cluzet) and his younger pal "Fred" (Guillaume Depardieu - anyone else think he's the double of Julian Sands?) live together in a glorified squat struggling to put a lettuce, or a tomato, on the table. The former fancies himself as a bit of a playwright but is amidst a fairly long barren spell; the latter - well he's a bit of a charming wastrel who is content to lie in bed all day as they both dream of their girlfriends, real or imaginary. Finally, they run out of what cash they did have and with eviction looming large they decide to rob the offices where "Antoine" works. That just proves to be a typically cack-handed affair for the pair, but also one that sees them rumbled by his bosses and facing a rather unique form of retribution - it's a martial arts magazine! Needless to say, this causes a bit of difficulty between these two men as depression soon hits "Antoine" in quite a potent fashion. Luckily, the boys have "Lorette" (Marie Trintignant) on hand to help steer them through this emotional maelstrom just as "Fred" succeeds in getting himself involved in a ménage-a-trois! Sure, it's all a little contrived and the scenarios do seem to go from frying pan to fire with predictable regularity, but there's a convincing and enjoyable dynamic between the two men here that the witty, quite near the bone, script does much to augment. In it's way it is quite an affecting love story depicting an inter-reliance based on a genuine fondness between two people whom you might reasonably think would do better apart. It hits the ground running and provides us with quite an entertaining observation of their lives that's well worth an hour and an half.

Antoine (François Cluzet), a failed writer separated from his girlfriend, Sylvie (Judith Henry) and has to share a flat occupied by a first-class lazy person, Fred (Guillaume Depardieu) who survives thanks to two-bit tricks. From then onwards, a chain of casual jobs and big woes awaits for them which will make Antoine plunge into depression. Fortunately, the friendship from Antoine is here to support him.

And it also keeps the viewer happy. Pierre Salvadori was on a roll after "Cible Emouvante" (1993). To write and film his second effort, he must have drawn into British social cinema, notably from its tendency to keep an uplifting look in gloomy social conditions. From the very beginning, Pierre Salvadori prefers to follow the road of the comedy to focus on these two unconventional people, unable to adapt themselves properly to the society and to cope with social crisis. An accumulation of preposterous situations, well chosen cues constantly maintain laughter and the end is here to give a welcome light of hope. Besides, when the two men play football with the children, it might be a symbolic sequence to reveal what they really are.

When you have more than estimable thespians like Guillaume Depardieu and François Cluzet in the affair and if they're sufficiently involved in the project and well directed, you can expect to have a really good time with them. Such is the case here, even if sometimes, the interest can wane because of a big proportion of various scenes. What remains is thoroughly gratifying to give this highly charged comedy a chance.

This story, simply and deeply magical, about these two friends who share a poor life, breath love, friendship and learning of life.

Francois Cluzet and Guillaume Depardieu are sensational all along the movie.

Cluzet is outstanding, he clearly knows that his life goes nowhere, he fears turning nuts, he's so funny...Depardieu is more naive and naturally optimistic, he's like a lost child, always between ground and clouds....

The movie is full of both realistic and burlesque humor...you cry and laugh at the same moment...simply magical and touching.....I love the Director, Pierre Salvadori, who touch your soul in every movie he makes...

For many reasons, one of my favorite movie ever....

The dialogue in this film is hilarious, the acting is superb, and the plot is intelligently constructed. There are no narrative gimmicks - these two mates are normal lads, not drug-addled, not abused by their parents, not victims of horrible fate, prejudice or a miscarriage of justice. This simplicity, coupled with its power to move solely on the development of character, is why the film is so effective. They are losers, of course, but then again who isn't nowadays? Antoine dreams of a nice house complete with nice family and literary career, Fred dreams about combustion engines. They are different, and although it is never directly said by either character, it is clear that their friendship is real and strong. Hollywood would have them opening their hearts either to each other or to some teacher or father figure, but Salvadori is more subtle than that. Their problems are manifest, but never shoved down our throats. What makes this film even more memorable, however, is its ability to make you laugh. Not only is the dialogue clever and just like the stuff you and your mates come out with, but there are also fantastic visual gags, some great set-pieces, and humour emanating from Antoine's withering state of mind (the best being his miserable crossword puzzle clues). I saw this film by accident and it is probably my favourite film, a surprise that will stay with me forever. And it doesn't rely on a pumping, modern soundtrack to keep it alive.