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La Situation est grave... mais pas désespérée
1976 Comedy
Review
If you have ever wondered what the word "imbroglio" means, this film
will enlighten you far better than any dictionary definition. La Situation est grave... mais pas
désespérée is one of the most convoluted
farces in French cinema, made in a decade when such films (usually
adaptations of moderately successful stage plays) were generally well
received. On the plus side, the film has an ebullient ensemble
cast who manage to supply a fair number of good laughs, albeit in a
somewhat scattergun fashion. Although his performance veers
towards the hysterical in places, Michel Serrault gives great
entertainment value, even if it is apparant that he is wasted on such
lowbrow fare as this. With its endless repetition and
increasingly absurd plot convolutions, the film quickly loses its
appeal. It soon resembles a long drawn out gag told by a
third-rate comedian, one where you feel you will die of old age before
you hear the punch line. This is one of those films which is
probably far more enjoyable if you watch it in thirty minute stints
rather than in one sitting.
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Director:
Jacques Besnard
Starring: Michel Serrault, Jean Lefebvre, Maria Pacôme, Daniel Prévost, Cécile Vassort Synopsis
Bertrand Duvenois is a property developer with great ambitions.
To secure the go-ahead for a new construction project, he invites
Jean-Pierre Mazard, the Minister of Quality and Culture, to spend a
weekend with him and his wife, Sophie de Valrude, at their sprawling
country estate. When Mazard arrives, he is accompanied by
his mistress – hence his eagerness to avoid any kind of
publicity. Unfortunately, the grounds have been invaded by a
squad of trigger-happy anti-gangster police led by the inept Inspector
Landrin. These are in pursuit of an armed and highly dangerous
crook who is on the run after having executed a spectacular
hold-up. At this juncture, Sophie’s former husband Philippe
- whom everyone thought dead – turns up from nowhere. This is
convenient because Sophie also receives an impromptu visit from her
father-in-law, whom she has deceived into thinking Philippe was still
alive. Unfortunately, neither Philippe nor his father know that
Sophie has re-married. Whilst this bombshell is waiting to go
off, another one lands on the doorstep. Mazard’s insanely jealous
wife arrives unannounced and is ready to kill her husband if she finds
he has been cheating her...
Credits
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