Directed by:
Henri VerneuilScreenplay:
Michel AudiardCinematography:
Louis PageComposer:
Michel MagneCast:
Jean Gabin, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Suzanne Flon, Gabrielle Dorziat, Geneviève Fontanel, Sylviane Margollé, Paul Frankeur, Noël Roquevert, Paul Mercey (more)Plots(1)
Normandy, 1944. Albert vows never to drink again if he and his wife survive the war... The reformed alcoholic must now face the difficulty of keeping his promise. Soon after the war, Albert meets young Gabriel, a heavy drinker conflicted over reconciling with his young daughter. In order to help Gabriel out, Albert decides he must take off with him on one last nostalgic drinking binge. The result is madcap havoc... (Cannes Film Festival)
(more)Reviews (2)
The drunken antics of the young Belmondo and the elderly Gabin are inherently sad. Especially when we discover that the reason for Belmondo's drinking is fear and a subconscious desire to avoid anything that duty and conscience might compel him to do. The two men keep getting drunk to deal with their anxiety and terror of reality, and everyone around them pays the price. I’ve seen that before somewhere. Fortunately, their alcoholic journey is not completely aimless and, although it zig-zags along the way, it does lead toward hope. IN A NUTSHELL: How to get to China by drinking while staying in small-town France. Sometimes being taken by the hand can provoke greater fear than a dragon breathing fire.
()
The film is good in terms of acting, which is hardly surprising given that it brings together greats like Jean Gabin and Jean-Paul Belmondo. But plot-wise it's not that great and at times it just felt like a drinking comedy. Well-acted, but still just a drinking comedy, under which you have to search a bit more for depth.
()