tux-12

Stéphane Bern is excellent in all his historical documentaries. But in this series where he wanted to test himself again as an actor, the result is just passable. Here he plays the role of a prosecutor who is uncomfortable after a disastrous conviction leading to suicide. He takes a leave to try, with his students, to exonerate his brother-in-law, accused of a crime.

The whole story is far-fetched, but can be easily watched if you don't expect a masterpiece. The second episode is a little better constructed, but still not very credible. And the inspector is still as bad as ever.

We should see 2 other episodes of the same kind. It will be time to stop this series after that, and return to History Secrets.

This film, as is often the case with Quentin Dupieux, leaves you a little disconcerted. The sudden ending prohibits any step back from the story that has just unfolded. The first half will surely make you laugh with its zaniness. The second half, turning to the taking of hostages by this individual who has become threatening, is less funny. We're looking for the message, but there doesn't seem to be any. We deride the troublemaker, the mediocrity of the actors, the cowardice of the spectators. Without any real conclusion.

I am sure that all theatre actors will shudder as they perhaps recall a similar experience of a provocateur interrupting the play they are performing. A sabotage that more twists and turns could have made exciting. Far too many films are at least an hour too long. This one could add additional time.