User Reviews

A little group of friends make up a musical band plus its main fan base. Upon growing older, Gilbert settles down : he marries his girlfriend and accepts a steady but boring job at the National Mint, where he destroys worn-out banknotes. Years later, one of his old mates shows up. Does the man want to re-new a long-cherished friendship, or is there something else going on ?

Now this is an unusual movie : it starts out as a simple comedy, turns into a much more complex tragicomedy/crime movie, and then becomes very very dark indeed. Near the end, however, the movie recoils from its own grimness, pretty much like a would-be suicide stepping back from the precipice, and works towards some kind of happy end. (Just HOW happy is a matter for debate.) Probably the various makers of the movie realized just in time that neither the French authorities nor the French public were waiting for cinemas filled with screaming, shuddering wrecks...

The movie does not entirely convince, but still, it is well worth a watch. Gérard Jugnot, who plays Gilbert, gives an excellent performance as a man who realizes that he has been betrayed deeply - and who doesn't like it one bit. It's a dark role but he pulls it off very well. Look at his eyes : it's like opening an oven door and watching the twisting, dancing flames.

There are also some good jokes and one-liners to enjoy, such as the famous : "Be quiet ! I've shot balder men than you !"

Unusual musical score, with many a kindly wink towards well-meaning musical bands of greater ambition than talent.