Le Sucre (1978)
Directed by Jacques Rouffio

Film Review

Inspired by the real-life sugar crisis of 1974, this film is an entertaining satire on the world of big finance and speculation.  Although the story is a little bland, the film succeeds overall because of the fine performances from Gérard Depardieu and Jean Carmet.  The unlikely pairing of an anarchistic con-artist and a tired middle-aged civil servant works surprisingly well, and this is certainly the focus of the film.   The two actors won Césars in 1980 for their parts in this film (Best Actor for Depardieu, Best Supporting Actor for Carmet).

Film Synopsis

Adrien Courtois is a tax inspector in his late fifties who has the good fortune to be married to a wealthy woman, Hilda.  After a series of generous inheritances, the couple are sufficiently well-off to retire and settle in Paris, where Adrien hopes to make some wise investments that will make him even richer.  He considers it a stroke of good fortune when his path crosses that of the Viscount Renaud d'Homécourt, a sweet-talking, good-looking man in his mid-20s who seems to know a thing or two about sound investments.  Not knowing that Renaud (or Raoul as he prefers to be called) is nothing more than a speculator of the most opportunistic kind, Adrien is persuaded to invest his wife's entire savings in sugar.

At the time, it seems like a sensible investment, since the world is experiencing a severe shortage of the sweet white commodity.  Just as Renaud promised, Adrien's shares suddenly soar in value and it looks as if the retired tax inspector can look forward to living the life of the carefree millionaire.  But then, even more spectacularly, the bubble bursts.  As new stocks of sugar flood the market Adien's shares become totally worthless.  Ruined, Adrien attempts suicide, but Raoul comes to his rescue.  Now the best of friends, the two men agree to join forces and take their revenge against those who are responsible for their present predicament...