Promotion canapé (1990) Directed by Didier Kaminka
Comedy
Film Review
Although he is better known as a screenwriter (mostly
on several of Claude Zidi's films including
Banzaï (1983) and
Les Ripoux (1984))
Didier Kaminka also directed a handful of films, of which Promotion canapé
was one of his most successful at the box office.
The film attracted an audience of just over
one million in France, and its prestigious cast may have had something
to do with this. One-time comedy superstar Pierre Richard, pop star Eddy Mitchell
and news anchorman Patrick Poivre d'Arvor make gratuitous cameo appearances,
a worrying sign perhaps of the director's lack of confidence in his lead
performers Margot Abascal and Grace de Capitani.
The film starts out from the premise of a tatty old cliché, namely that
the quickest way to success is to sleep with the boss, but fails to make
much of it, the result being something of a tedious farce that struggles to
keep going. The plethora of acting talent (the female leads are
soon out-shone by more seasoned performers Thierry Lhermitte, Patrick Chesnais and Claude Rich)
helps to disguise the vacuity of the plot but Kaminka's bland direction
and a paucity of original gags ultimately take their toll. Any film
that tries to make light of sexual harassment in the work place to
grab a few cheap laughs has its work cut out - and this one just shows what a dubious
activity this is.
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Film Synopsis
Catherine and Françoise, two young women from the provinces, can
hardly wait to begin their exciting new life in the big city. They
have both found jobs with the Paris Postal Service and are eager to make
a good impression. But no sooner have they started work than they realise
they are fated to be the victims of male chauvinism. All of their male-workers
obviously consider themselves superior to them and regard all women as inadequate,
mere sex objects for their amusement. Realising there is not much she
can do about this, Catherine decides to turn it to her advantage, allowing
her superiors to sleep with her so that she can gain a swift and easy promotion.
Françoise is at first unwilling to resort to the same underhand tactics
to get on, especially since she has met someone who is exactly the kind of
man she would like to spend the rest of her life with. But when her
new beau proves to be unfaithful to her, Françoise has a sudden change
of heart and decides to follow her friend's scurrilous example. It's
amazing how far and how fast your career can progress, if you're prepared
to sleep around a little. Before she knows it, Françoise has
left Catherine trailing way behind her...
Cast: Grace De Capitani (Catherine),
Thierry Lhermitte (le ministre),
Michel Sardou (Bernard),
Claude Rich (Ivan),
Patrick Chesnais (André),
Zabou Breitman (Carole),
Jean-Pierre Castaldi (Pierre),
Margot Abascal (Françoise),
Rufus (Inspecteur Justice 1),
Martin Lamotte (Marcel, le formateur),
Romain Bouteille (L'homme du Printemps),
Catherine Alric (Marie-Claire),
Nicole Jamet (Hélène),
Pierre Richard (l'informateur),
Eddy Mitchell (Le délégué de la cgt),
Daniel Gélin (Le responsable des Inspecteurs Justice),
Patrick Poivre d'Arvor (Himself),
Josiane Lévêque (La femme de F.O.),
Michel Crémadès (Jean-Paul),
Patrice Melennec (L'animateur foyer)
Country: France
Language: French
Support: Color
Runtime: 92 min
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