Pierre Chenal's debut ,it is primarily a comedy with snatches of drama thrown in for good measure.But these continual hesitations throw the movie off balance.In the second part the big fat man falls in love with his friend's wife but he knows he will never be loved;this makes "Le Martyre De L'Obese" a blueprint for some of Chenal's movies ,particularly "Le Dernier Tournant" (which was the first version of "the postman always rings twice") and his masterpiece "La Foire Aux Chimères" :the not very handsome man who becomes a victim.Even if the hero from this movie concludes that life is worth living anyway even without the love of a woman,the ending leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.
That said,I would recommend this movie to Chenal's completists,but only for them.
That said,I would recommend this movie to Chenal's completists,but only for them.