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Monsieur Batignole

  • 2002
  • Tous publics
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
3.6K
YOUR RATING
Gérard Jugnot and Jules Sitruk in Monsieur Batignole (2002)
ComedyDramaWar

In 1942, in occupied Paris, the apolitical grocer Edmond Batignole lives with his wife and daughter in a small apartment in the building of his grocery. When Pierre-Jean Lamour, his future s... Read allIn 1942, in occupied Paris, the apolitical grocer Edmond Batignole lives with his wife and daughter in a small apartment in the building of his grocery. When Pierre-Jean Lamour, his future son-in-law and collaborator of the Germans calls the Germans to arrest the Jewish Bernstein... Read allIn 1942, in occupied Paris, the apolitical grocer Edmond Batignole lives with his wife and daughter in a small apartment in the building of his grocery. When Pierre-Jean Lamour, his future son-in-law and collaborator of the Germans calls the Germans to arrest the Jewish Bernstein family, they move to the confiscated apartment. Some days later, the young Simon Bernstei... Read all

  • Director
    • Gérard Jugnot
  • Writers
    • Gérard Jugnot
    • Philippe Lopes-Curval
  • Stars
    • Jules Sitruk
    • Gérard Jugnot
    • Michèle Garcia
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.0/10
    3.6K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Gérard Jugnot
    • Writers
      • Gérard Jugnot
      • Philippe Lopes-Curval
    • Stars
      • Jules Sitruk
      • Gérard Jugnot
      • Michèle Garcia
    • 13User reviews
    • 11Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win total

    Videos1

    Bande-annonce [OV]
    Trailer 1:35
    Bande-annonce [OV]

    Photos2

    View Poster
    View Poster

    Top cast38

    Edit
    Jules Sitruk
    Jules Sitruk
    • Simon Bernstein
    Gérard Jugnot
    Gérard Jugnot
    • Edmond Batignole
    Michèle Garcia
    • Marguerite Batignole
    • (as Michele Garcia)
    Jean-Paul Rouve
    Jean-Paul Rouve
    • Pierre-Jean Lamour
    Alexia Portal
    • Micheline Batignole
    Violette Blanckaert
    • Sarah Cohen
    Daphné Baiwir
    Daphné Baiwir
    • Guila Cohen
    • (as Daphne Baiwir)
    Götz Burger
    Götz Burger
    • SS Col. Spreich
    Élisabeth Commelin
    • Irène
    • (as Elisabeth Commelin)
    Hubert Saint-Macary
    • Gendarmerie lieutenant
    Daniel Martin
    Daniel Martin
    • Brigadier Albert
    Nadine Spinoza
    • Rachel Bernstein
    Damien Jouillerot
    • Martin
    Philippe du Janerand
    Philippe du Janerand
    • Administrateur
    Marie-Gaëlle Cals
    • Edwige
    Flannan Obé
    • Paul
    Karine Pinoteau
    • Infirmière train
    Didier Lafaye
    • Indic village
    • Director
      • Gérard Jugnot
    • Writers
      • Gérard Jugnot
      • Philippe Lopes-Curval
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews13

    7.03.5K
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    Featured reviews

    9rps-2

    Magnifique!

    This does for the German occupation of France what "Life Is Beautiful" did for that of Italy. It's a wonderfully warm and even humourous story set against the horror of the holocaust. The characters are well drawn and the camera sees the German occupation through decidedly French eyes. No propaganda. No punches pulled. No attempt to deny that many French collaborated with the Nazis. And no false heroics. M. Batignole is a timid hero indeed but a genuine hero nonetheless. A refreshing new perspective on the war years with much to praise and nothing to criticise.
    10tordiway

    Hen-pecked, simple butcher in occupied France finds himself thrust into heroism when a Jewish child appears on his doorstep seeking shelter.

    Probably the best film I have seen so far this year. We recently screened it for our Film Festival Selection Committee and the response was near-unanimous - four stars. The previous commenter's accusations of "terminal cuteness" baffle me - this is the best good-old-fashioned solid three-act structure Hollywood movie I have seen in a long time - and it was made in France. The distributor claims that they cannot find an American distributor who will meet their terms - therefore, there are no plans for American release. If you can find it playing at your local Jewish Film Festival (about the only place you are likely to find it in the US - a shame, really, since it is not a film only for Jews)by all means buy your ticket and go.
    8Andreas_N

    In quest of hope

    Both an entertaining and a sincere movie. Jules Sitruk definitely did a very good job in here. The story had indeed some emotional involvements and was above the average. I liked the way Gerard Jugnot and Jules interacted with each other. Sometimes it was a bit oversubscribed and unrealistic - I'm thinking of the gorgeous sequence with the German soldier who had his knee dislocated - but nonetheless it didn't minimize the movie's natural charm. The historical background adds a significant amount of authenticity to the whole plot and grants the movie additional quality. Solid acting, entertaining experience. Recommended.
    1Superwonderscope

    Terminal Cuteness

    This movie suffers from terminal cuteness.. Even treating such a horrible subject, Gérard Jugnot does what he's been doing for over 20 years : playing and directing average french citizens facing not so ordinary situations(of unemployment in Une epoque formidable, of the sects in Fallait Pas, of being a father of a famous actress in Meilleur espoir Féminin...etc.,etc.). Treating in a comic way a serious subject.

    This flick is plain silly...a long road to clichéness with an ability to open doors that have already been opened 50 years ago. The germans are bad, sex-crazed people.Deportation is horrible. Every french citizen was pro-german during the war and pro-De Gaulle in 1945. Daaah? The best part is when he's taking the 3 jewish children nearby the swiss border. The french people living there are supposed to have a strong accent (as the kids). But all the adults don't. It is simply both stupid and hilarious (but unintentionally, of course).

    Because it wants to tell us about a tragic event and deliver a message of hope we're supposed to love the movie? Nah. It just falls flat on every level : ludicrous dialogues, comedy, drama, war, suspense (ooooohhhh, are the poor children going the get caught by the nasty nazi??? Nah.)...everything is over-demonstrative and SO predictable. This tearjerker is a huge success in France where most of the official critics just love that sense of cuteness. It is beyond redemption, really. This movie deserves a slap in the face to wake it up a bit...but no...terminal cuteness indeed.

    And not even an accurate use of the Scope A.R to higher the note a bit. Pfff.

    Superwonderscope says : 1
    ernier

    A very pleasant surprise.

    Although some of the characters are clichés, they are all well acted. The film manages to mix its humor with the seriousness of the subject without the awkwardness and maudlin artificiality of "Life is Beautiful." I don't know if this has been released in the U.S. (I saw it on an Air France flight), but it is worth looking for.

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    Related interests

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    Comedy
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Frères d'armes (2001)
    War

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Goofs
      When Pierre-Jean threatens Edmond with the cleaver, the blade is vertical in shots from the front but is horizontal in shots from behind Edmond.
    • Connections
      Featured in Gérard Jugnot - artisan réalisateur (2013)
    • Soundtracks
      Elle a Tout
      Music by Francis Lopez

      Lyrics by André Hornez and Raymond Vincy

      Performed by Andrex

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 6, 2002 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • France
    • Official site
      • BAC Films (France)
    • Languages
      • French
      • German
    • Also known as
      • On pouvait pas savoir...
    • Filming locations
      • Musée Galliera - 10 avenue Pierre-1er-de-Serbie, Paris 16, Paris, France(Kommandantur)
    • Production companies
      • RF2K Productions
      • Novo Arturo Films
      • TF1 Films Production
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $8,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $9,502,387
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 40m(100 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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