Les sous-doués

I saw this movie a couple of days ago on cable TV. Even though it's quite old, it remains funny all the same.

It's about a group of teenagers who are just too dumb to pass their imminent exams for their baccalaureate, and the tremendous effort by their teachers to make them learn the lesson by the deadline (They even use a "Learning Machine", which beats up every student for their wrong answers).

After a misunderstanding involving a bomb, they are forced to take their exams supervised by the police, so they manage to cheat using some really weird tricks, like elastic coats that, when stretched, reveal the answers. The best thing about this movie is that it's amusing from beginning to end, never taking itself seriously. For instance, when an officer finds the bomb, as soon as he shouts "I've found it!" it explodes, leaving his smoldering (and still standing!) skeleton among the ruins of the school building.

'Baccalauréat' examination is a very important feature of French culture and civilization. Its importance can be assessed by the fact that the intellectual stance of a person is measured in France by ascertaining how many marks did that person get in his/her 'baccalauréat'/"Bac" examinations.Each year,this examination receives elaborate press as well as electronic media coverage. Despite the importance of this examination which is extremely popular outside of France too, there are not many French films which have shown the importance of "Baccalauréat" examination in a light manner. This is one reason why "Les Sous-Doués Passent Le Bac" must be considered a major achievement in the history of French cinema as it treats 'baccalauréat' examination in a very light fashion.French director Claude Zidi chose to highlight restrictions which were put on a group of students in order to make them succeed in their "Bac" exams. Watching this film, it appears as if the students have lost their sense of freedom. It is at this juncture that they decide to play ingenious tricks in classroom in order to score excellent grades. Les Sous-Doués Passent Le Bac shows us the world of students from their perspective as it enables us to understand why youngsters would like to have fun at all costs. It is a pure, visual delight to watch leading men of French cinema Daniel Auteuil, Michel Galabru, Feodor Atkine and Richard Bohringer. Lastly, Claude Zidi worked in close association with Didier Kaminka and Michel Fabre to pen a highly inventive script full of gags and unexpected comic situations.

"Souvenez-vous de vos vingt ans/ mais oui, mais oui, c'était longtemps" sang star Daniel Auteuil in the soundtrack of box-office hit "Les sous-doués". He was referring, of course, to the professors of the conservative school Louis XIV, in which he was a student. Don't mistake me here. He went there as the hero of this amazing film, and taught millions of spectators what a good French comedy is.

Auteuil is Bébel, the leader of a clique of pranksters, who try and succeed in not passing the famous Baccalaureate exam (aka the Bac) every year. When they score a historic zero percent passing rate, the principal of the school (Maria Pacôme) decides to enforce strict measures in order to transform these idlers to serious students. Of course, she doesn't take in account their smartness, resulting in hilarious confirmations between her and them. The only thing that convinces them to pass the exam is a prank gone wrong, which could have as consequence their going to prison. Except, of course, if they pass.

This film is nothing more than a succession of gags, so well-crafted, though, that one can't hold their laugh when watching the movie. From a learning machine, that smacks the user if they don't know the subject, to a pen controlled from distance by another user, that lets the student write without trying, both sides use methods bordering on the absurd to succeed in their cause, that is, either to force the students to pass, or to succeed without effort. Cheaters the world over couldn't compete with the ingeniousness of the pranks that these under-gifted (hence "Les sous-doués") students devise.

This is because they were based on real life. Director Claude Zidi got the idea for the movie, and its unparalleled content, from his daughter's antics when passing the Bac. Having no money, and needing to repay his creditors, he made this movie on a shoestring budget, with only the talent of his cast and the originality of his jokes as help.

Speaking of the actors, their performances will surely be exemplary for a comedy for years to come. Not falling into the trap of being unnecessarily serious, or hyperbolic, they mostly shone through their comedic timing. In short, they were outright hilarious, bordering on the ridiculous sometimes, but generally serving the script well with their passion and charm. Daniel Auteuil stole the show for the first time, this being the film that made him famous. The actor now known for his multifaceted portrayal of tragic heroes showed then another aspect of his abilities, being the most recognisable and relatable of the characters, the lover of little effort, the ingenious planner of pranks, the popular yet gentle guy one doesn't often see in comedies, let alone French ones. In a country with one of the most rigid school systems, this comedy was met with success because its characters were what few students could be; free and yet successful, having fun of themselves while taking one of the most difficult exams . Not even the strictest disciplinarian could put them in order, because there was no need in trying to do so. These teachers were too far removed from their students in order to understand them.

This is why Auteuil sang "Souvenez-vous de vos vingt ans/ mais oui, mais oui, c'était longtemps". The faculty of the high school could never return in the time they were twenty, they were too much absorbed in the exam-centered system in which they taught. Still, school is not all about exams. So, the next time the Bac comes, I suggest taking a look in this cult classic, that completely denigrated this exam and emphasized the need to have fun even in the most stressful of situations. That it is better to be a "sous-doué" rather than a genius.

Around whom are the best movies centered, after all?

Indeed, there is one genre in which American movies usually fail and french one are rather inspired : comedy ! And for my country, Zidi was among the best for that : he had really the talent to pick classic positive characters and put them borderline, so the fun ! Before policemen taking bribes, here he plays with cheating students ! It's light, natural not spoofs or too intellectual so you laugh really hard and have great fun ! The appeal of this movie is his great casting as well : today movies are brand-names, who's who of too much paid people but then, movies were open to unknown newcomers : they were fresh, full of energy and if some has built a career so far, it's has been a one-shot for the others… At last, this movie is also interesting because it happens in a France that has disappeared : if those students are lazy, they show some political ideas, they dress well. Today, students have nothing in their heads, guys dress with sport-ware all day and girls wear less to show more ! Actually, it's maybe the first time I watched this movie : when it was aired on TV, i was a kid so in a period which means no TV at night except Tuesday and Saturday, so i heard about it in school playground with my friends talking about it ! I'm on board for their summer sequel next week !

"Les sous-doués" is a french comedy movie in which we watch a group of classmates who want to take the baccalaureate. But to succeed this they have to study very hard and they are not so much fan of studying. Also they belong to the high class so they go to a private high-school the Louis XIV and there they have very strict teachers who are willing to help them with any way to succeed to their exams and of course to gain reputation from their results. In this they will find some difficulties and there is the point where all the hilarious moments start to happen.

I really liked this movie because it belongs to those kind of movies in which you never stop to laugh and every moment something really funny happens. I also liked this movie because of the interpretation of Daniel Auteuil who played as Baptiste Lavalle and he was simply outstanding and I believe that in this movie every interpretation was equally good because each interpretation had a different part in this success. Every person who played in this movie had his own part in this and when all of these parts are combined the result which came out was simply the best.

Finally I have to say that "Les sous-doués" is one of the funniest french movies that I have ever seen and I strongly recommend it. I believe that the reason that was so good is because it does not exceed the limits of the comedy and stays on it and do not tire the audience.