...notably in Pagnol's "Angèle" but this time there's an unexpected twist which reveals us that in fact....
Carlo Rim's screenplay is rather desultory ,less funny that "le Mort en Fuite" but it encompasses a lot of subjects: smuggling,rivalry between two villages and snatches of "Romeo and Juliette",celebration of a local glorious man (Mister Fougasse (sic): it' s a kind of Provençale brioche)complete with speech and parade,and a strange superstition that says that a village idiot is a good luck charm ,which the movie "proves ":as soon as Simplet is driven away from the village ,all the brats in his village have measles and that's not all.The ten plagues ,like in Mosis's time perhaps.
The songs are pleasant but the eponymous tune has bitter accents .
Best scene: a young girl is about to deliver a small congratulatory speech in honor of the minister;but she can only utter one word "Heureux....".An old surly woman takes her place.when she's finished ,the minister kisses....the girlie as the lady furiously glances at the politician.
