Les nouveaux aristocrates

Francis Rigaud was a director of lousy French comedies (like Raoul André or Jean - Claude Dague) but his first movie "les Nouveaux Aristocrates" is worth a look, it's a serious and well done drama (like Raoul André and his "la Planque"). Story of a young man rebelling in his catholic school as his bourgeois parents are getting more and more distant until the announcement of a divorce. And he's getting more and more nasty. A new teacher of philosophy, played soberly by Paul Meurisse, tries to help him, with very distinguished citations. Paul Meurisse remains very calm, with always the right answer or remark. The entire casting is perfect, special mention to a young and very sexy Mireille Darc, much better than in her previous movie "Mourir d'aimer". Hard to find movie, the only print in circulation is poor, I guess it didn't have any success, and it really deserves restoration, it's a nice surprise. It would be justice to its director who is now 101 years old. Thanks for that movie Mr Rigaud.

A harsh criticism of pretentious, heartless parents and their self-centered society friends, "Les Nouveaux Aristocrates" is also the sensitive portrayal of an engaging young rebel and the account of his friendship with his philosophy teacher, a priest unsure of his own faith. One could imagine either Bresson or Bergman or even Dreyer at the helm. And who should be responsible for this profound, thought-provoking drama but two kings of cheesy French comedy : Francis Rigaud ("Les Baratineurs" - sigh ! ) and Jacques Vilfrid ("Deux grandes Filles dans un Pyjama" - Gasp ! ). Just amazing ! And yet I was gripped by their poignant tale. Of course the source is not to be overlooked ( Michel de Saint-Pierre's novel he himself supervised ), nevertheless it must be admitted that they did not betray it.

Into the bargain we are offered an excellent performance by Paul Meurisse, more restrained than usual and we are given the opportunity to discover Michel Galabru wearing a cassock and Paul Preboist playing an anarchist. Very, very unusual and wonderfully unexpected.