Les Chinois à Paris

Wild, sarcastic French comedy by the irrepressible director/writer/actor Jean Yanne about what would happen to Paris and Parisians if Chinese Maoists invaded France. This rebellious satire -- ideally to be seen on a double bill with Godard's "La Chinoise" -- makes fun of very delicate political matters. There are plenty of innuendos about French collaborationism during WWII, but then it's almost always true that any occupying forces in a foreign culture will eventually engage in corruption and shady businesses, while some of the invaded natives will always find a way of profiting from the status quo. The subject is common to every invasion/ domination ever taken place (including right now you know where).

Wonderful cast, acid script and quick-tempered dialog are highlights in this irregular but imaginative film by Yanne, the man who made fun of Ceasar & Cleopatra on "Deux Heures moins le Quart avant Jésus Christ" (1972), the French Revolution in "Liberté, Égalité, Choucroute" (1975) and French TV industry in "Je te Tiens, Tu Me Tiens par la Barbichette" (1979). There are many memorable scenes; I particularly enjoyed the new "version" of Bizet's Carmen by Chinese opera singers, a riot!!!