The mayor of a French unnamed city, Guillaume Daubray-Lacaze (Louis de Funes) is also a bit of an inventor. His latest invention, a machine that makes all polluted air disappear, it is named CX22. Japanese business people are visiting the factory, hopefully they'll buy some machines.
Guillaumes wife Bernadette (Annie Girardot) helps her husband through thick and thin, arranges dinner, with a healthy amount of alcohol, to soften the Japanese. The plan works, the Japanese boss orders 3000 machines. Happiness all around.
But this big order really demands the factory to expand. Guillaume thinks that the production could just as well, also commence in the house. Soon the whole house are invated. Bernadette soldiers on supporting her husband through 23 years. Now even though that the bedroom also now is being part of production, the couple celebrate their wedding day.
The production still need to expand, and Bernadette is having a big garden, her love and pride. Together with his assistent L'imbecile (yes!) (Maurice Risch) Guillaume arrange the whole garden flodded with gasoline, which of course destroy all plants. That naturally is the point where Bernadette has had enough. She moves to a hotel.
As if this wasn't enough the following is about to happen: A very serious visit from the bank president (Daniel Boulanger), a rivalry with doctor Landry (Julien Guiomar), an upcoming mayor election with a tough TV debate. How will it all end?
The film is directed by Claude Zidi, who earlier has directed de Funes. He brings out the best in the two leads. Sometimes de Funes can be a handful, but he is a bit more gentle here, not that he is all normal! Definitely worth seeing.
