Fiasco

I followed the series in French and I think that the script is packed with clichés and plot holes. The humour, if you can call it that, lands with the grace of a lead balloon. Main character Raphaël is weak, vulgar and incompetent and his incompetence is not funny but cringeworthy and annoying.

The "accident" of the stunt woman is that type of "Grand Guignol" that children and teenagers find irresistible. A severed foot... such fun! And a surprise birthday party... what a laugh. Raphaël's crush on the lead actress is silly and all the swearing over the top.

Je parle Français, donc j'ai suivi la série en original..

A French farce on the machinations of movie making, with a behind-the-scenes crew capturing first time director, Raphaël (Pierre Niney in top form), making a mess of it all in so many funny ways, as it deals with every possible anxiety riddled fiasco that could (and does) go dreadfully wrong on the making of a film.

Every movie making department is not safe. From an out of touch idiotic producer, to the bad breath of a make-up artist. Most importantly are the egotistic actors (even worse, method actors!) who have a field day in hamming up their roles. If you are familiar with the workings of a film crew, you will laugh yourself silly, but most of all, you will cringe with pure delight as this absurdist farce takes it all the way...

I watched two episodes of this series, hoping it would improve but unfortunately, it just got sillier. It seemed funny from the trailer, about a shy, first-time director making his first movie, and everything escalating into a huge disaster, but the cast is too big, and none of the characters is more than a stereotype (the director in love with the female movie star, the pretentious actor, the stupid producer, etc...) and the chances for laughter are few and far between.

The character of Raphael is just unbelievable, nobody that weak would have the drive and perseverance to get the financing for his movie, and the plot about his grandmother seems predictably silly and not something that would get financed.

I also found the "mockumentary" style particularly grating, with the invasive presence of one or more cameramen filming everything on the sly and the constant use of social media.

If you're ready to dive into a whirlwind of laughter and cinematic intrigue, then "Fiasco" is the series for you. This irreverent mockumentary, created by Igor Gotesman and Pierre Niney, is a chaotic journey into the world of cinema that will keep you glued to the screen from start to finish. Get ready to laugh out loud as we follow novice director Raphaël Valande in his disastrous attempt to complete his first major film project. The plot follows the misadventures of young director Raphaël Valande, portrayed by Pierre Niney, as he tries to bring his first major film project to fruition. What begins as an ambitious historical epic quickly turns into a full-blown fiasco, with technical hiccups, internal team conflicts, and non-stop comedic situations. At first, the "embarrassing" humor of "Fiasco" can make viewers feel uncomfortable because it presents embarrassing and unexpected situations that reflect the chaotic reality of filmmaking. Viewers might feel embarrassed watching the characters face unforeseen obstacles or exhibit eccentric behavior on set. However, as the plot unfolds and the characters tackle these situations with humor and irony, viewers begin to understand the comedic side of the challenges encountered. Ultimately, the combination of hilarious situations, sharp wit, and exaggerated character reactions leads viewers to laugh out loud, appreciating the smart humor and engaging storytelling of the series. The cast is brilliant, with Pierre Niney delivering a masterful portrayal of the introverted and ambitious director Raphaël Valande. Géraldine Nakache and Vincent Cassel round out the cast with equally brilliant performances, making every episode a joy to watch. But "Fiasco" is not just carefree fun; it also offers reflection on the world of cinema and human nature. Through the hilarious and often surreal situations that unfold on screen, the series prompts us to reflect on passion, perseverance, and power dynamics within the film industry. The mockumentary format of the series adds a touch of originality and freshness to the viewing experience. Shot in the style of a behind-the-scenes DVD, "Fiasco" makes us feel like we're on set with the cast and crew, making the experience even more immersive and entertaining. "Fiasco" is truly a series worth watching. With its blend of smart humor, high-level performances, and reflections on human nature and the film industry, this series is a real gem. So, if you're looking for a new series that will make you laugh and think, look no further: "Fiasco" is the one for you.

There is some really truly funny comedy in here there is a little bit too much of Pierre Niney but if we can get over that some of the ancillary characters, come up with lines at times which will slay you completely the young girl Juliette Gasquet when she says "working girl on the tarmac got it " had me in stitches.

The problem here is that the storyline is moronic okay we get it he made a film and everything went south that is it that is the storyline there is nothing else to it so the entire piece is only held together by the incredible acting skills and personalities here and some of the comedy lines which one feels at times were improvised by the players themselves

Some of the lines by François Civil are totally astounding as is his delivery

But overall the storyline is incredibly unidimensional we do not care if we are not in the business of filmmaking or want to be in the business of filmmaking how about those films are made this is so tedious as interesting as going to a bakery and instead of the guy handing you two baguettes and the fact that he had to get up at 3 o'clock in the morning and knead for an hour and a half we don't care this is not what we came here for or going to a Dentist and he explaining to you the intricacies of his training we have no interest in what goes on behind the scenes just give us a good story acted properly and if it is a comedy as it is here make us laugh there are countless movies made over the years I remember La noche americana (1973) by the highly revered François Truffaut all those years ago same exact problem

Anyway if you want to face seven episodes of actors and actresses showing you how difficult it is to be them and be paid handsomely for the privilege watch this and yes there will be some humongously funny one-liners and jokes again probably if you are not of a Gallic persuasion they will ride past you leaving no mark whatsoever this is what the French call Franco-French humour really only compatible with the local market (which it is aimed at anyway)

But yes some good giggles ....