Le Petomane: Parti avec le vent

This is a delightful and informative movie about a talented man woefully overlooked by history. It's beautifully filmed and well acted and scripted. If you like your humor on the sly side, then this is for you. I only had 2 disappointments with this film: #1 - not nearly long enough. I would've LOVED to have had this film follow this fascinating man (and his family & friends) for a much longer period of time. #2 - there were times that, because of the softness of the voices and the heavy french accents, that I missed some of the dialog. Subtitles would've helped. All in all, an entertaining, informative short and a nice way to spend your time.

I laughed so hard I got a nose bleed. (True!)

LE PETOMANE: PARTI AVEC LE VENT does not appear to be a comedy at the start but it did not take long for this reviewer to catch on.

If you hear this story related it sounds highly improbable, but experiencing the story visually, as written, presented and directed by Steve Ochs and a wonderful cast and crew, it is candy for eyes.

Oana Bogdan's masterful recreation of Marseille and Paris just before the opening of the twentieth century, is brought to life richly by the costumes of Ariyela Wald-Cohain, the sensitive and comical score of Kent Karlsson, and the unfailing eye of Bengt Jan Jonsson.

Kevin Scott Allen, gives us a moving portrayal of Dr. Baudouin who narrates his story in all its twisted perversion and Mr. Allen actually manages to make us feel sorry for his character when we learn that the wretched Dr. has contracted a fatal disease.

Ben Wise is quietly outrageous as Le Petomane and his characterization is doubly amusing when one compares his demeanor and his actions. Mr. Wise and Aimee Miles make moving and poignant lovers and Mr. Karlsson never misses an opportunity to render their relationship with appropriate harmonies.

The balance of the cast perform splendidly.

As the story is a visual treat my review will leave it to your personal discovery.

This is one for your MUST SEE list. It left me wanting more.

It's ironic that this film is about a man who is able to manipulate his flatulence. Because when it comes to farts and this film, despite the talent and effort involved, the end result is still a bunch of crap.

The other reviewers are either high, paid shills, friends and family of the filmmaker, or quite possibly all of the above.

It's clear that a considerable amount of creative effort and professional craft went into the production value of this film as the lighting, cinematography, costume design, etc are very impressive for such a small film. But that is where its value comes to a screeching halt. The story itself is neither funny nor compelling. The character of Le Petomane is worthy of perhaps a footnote or a minor story point in other films about the glory days of the Moulin Rouge but nothing more. He's just not that interesting or at least not in this film. The characters are caricatures, the dialogue is forced and the acting is amateurish; although the blame doesn't fall on the actors as much as it does the poor writing. The story about a man who farts on command and is able to make various animal noises and do tricks with his ass is really just a sophomoric joke that goes on for 29 minutes too long.

Full of glorious bombast, outrageous French accents, and probably as much accuracy as one can expect from even a serious Hollywood biopic, Le Petomane: Parti avec le vent is brilliant. The score is too big, the shots are too lush, the whole tone is perfect. I've been waiting for a while for someone to find the right way to capture this (true) story. My only complaint is that I would've gladly sat through the full two-hour treatment. Kudos! IMDb has now informed me that a comment must a minimum of 10 lines. So much for Strunk & White and years of studying concise writing. I therefore repeat, see Le Petomane at your earliest convenience. I don't know what the release deal is, but find it or ask your neighborhood cable operator or petition The Academy. It's a mighty fine short film.

This short movie looks and feels big budget, but it isn't. The movie is loosely based on the incredible life of Joseph Pujol, Le Pétomane, who starred at the Moulin Rouge over a hundred years ago. I had read a book about Le Pétomane in the middle of the sixties and sometime after I met my wife in 1972, I must have told her about the book. When she read in a newspaper that it was going to be shown at the 2006 Los Angeles Shorts movie Festival, I had to go and she went too. She was prepared to dislike it, but she loved the movie. It has a quality the best movies have. I felt I was a part of the story and immersed in the sights, smells and sounds of France. When you get the chance, see it and be prepared to be charmed by this stranger than fiction movie which is so very well done.