La Vérité si je mens (1997)
Directed by Thomas Gilou

Film Review

The second most successful French film of 1997 (after Luc Besson's sci-fi extravaganza The Fifth Element) was this exuberant social comedy directed by third time director Thomas Gilou. As in his previous two films (Black Mic Mac and Rai), Gilou paints a realistic yet affectionate portrait of an immigrant community in Paris, tackling light-heartedly but pointedly topical issues such as racial intolerance and social exclusion. The film attracted an audience of 4.9 million in France and resulted in two highly successful sequels, La Vérité si je mens! 2 (2001) and La Vérité si je mens! 3 (2012), with most of the principal cast reunited.

It is also a film about male friendship within a loosely formed gang, a subject that would be dealt with more frequently in France following the success of Marc Esposito's Le Coeur des hommes (2003). In the group formed by Richard Anconina, Vincent Elbaz, José Garcia, Gilbert Melki and Bruno Solo the film offers plenty of scope for exploring the limits and virtues of friendship, which the sequels successfully build on. Whilst the film does have its shortcomings (the humour is scattergun and the plot seems to be all over the place), it is an enjoyable romp, with engaging performances not only from the five likeable buddies but also Richard Bohringer and the attractive female contingent of the cast.

Film Synopsis

Jobless and penniless, Eddie Vuibert has the good fortune to run into Victor Benzakhem, a Jewish businessman who manages a successful textile business in an immigrant quarter of Paris.  Mistaking Eddie for a fellow Jew, Victor offers him a warehouse job.  When Eddie negotiates a good sale, Victor is impressed and makes him a salesman.  But soon, the two men begin to fall out.  Eddie falls in love with his employer's daughter, Sandra, and, in an attempt to show he is worthy of her, he embarks on an ill-fated business idea.  When the scheme falls through, his friend Dov is there to help him out and Sandra still wants to marry him.  But for how long can Eddie hide the fact that he is not a Jew from his future bride and father-in-law..?