For this holiday episode we are delving into cinema history with renowned cinephile, David Honnorat, and talking all bout French comedy film. Our focus is Santa Claus is a Stinker (Le père Noël est une ordure) 1982, and French Fried Vacation 2: The Bronzes go Skiing (Les Bronzés font du ski) 1979.
David is a renowned cinephile and video essayist. He runs a successful youtube channel called Calmos named after another film of the time by Bertrand Blier. He also wrote a movie guide and a Movieland map.
David unpacks the cultural influences that made this era of comedy so unique and gives us some background on the Parisian theater company (Le Splendid) that created the movement.
There are two of David’s videos with English subtitles on his channel Calmos
The essay on Kitchen with Apartment (1993)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nj5aedz2iso
And OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies (2006)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0fURk7ykLI
Show Hosts are ARBL Murray (Alex Brook Lynn) and Manon Kerjean
Show Notes:
We love giving our audience a little homework. Here are David’s recommendations for getting started with French Comedy:
OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies (2006)
Spy comedy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OSS_117:_Cairo,_Nest_of_Spies
La Grande Vadrouille (1966)
French civilians help a stranded British Royal Air Force crew navigate Nazi Occupied France to safety.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Grande_Vadrouille
Other French Comedy and Film Comedians mentioned in this episode:
Le splendid – Theater Troupe
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Splendid
Coluche – A French stage comedian
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coluche
Ettore Scola’s Ugly, dirty and nasty (Affreux, sales et méchants)
A dark Italian comedy about life in the outskirts of Rome.
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affreux,_sales_et_méchants
For More Information Go to Lostinfrenchlation.com
