Micmacs (a tire-larigot) (2009)

Directed by: Jean-Pierre Jeunet | 105 minutes | comedy, crime | Actors: Dany Boon, André Dussollier, Nicolas Marié, Jean-Pierre, Marielle, Yolande Moreau, Julie Ferrier, Omar Sy, Dominique Pinon, Michel Crémadès, Marie-Julie Baup, Urbain Cancelier, Patrick Paroux, Jean-Pierre Becker, Stéphane Butet , Philippe Girard

We all know director Jean-Pierre Jeunet from the widely loved arthouse blockbuster ‘Le fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain’, but Jeunet surprised us in a longer past (1991) with ‘Delicatessen’, which is a visual spectacle of the first order. was with absurdist horror as its overtone. In the intervening period, in 2004 he made a film of a completely different order, ‘Un long dimanche de fiançailles’. With ‘Micmacs à tire-larigot’ he puts down a comedy that is so full of subtle jokes and beautiful twists that a fat grin is constantly on your face. This is another evening of feasting for a wide audience.

The story itself does not dig too deep, but that is not a loss. April 1979, a team of explosives experts clears mines in Western Sahara. An explosion follows, a man dies and his things are sent home. Then his son (Bazil) discovers in a photo the logo of the arms factory that supplied the mines. The story continues thirty years later: Bazil (a strong rendition of Dany Boon), you know, of the hilarious ‘Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis’ about the director of the southern French post office who was ‘banished’ to northern France) works in a video store and in a shooting on the doorstep by a fateful and extremely unfortunate accident, gets a bullet in the head. It is too risky to remove it, because – if the operation goes wrong – it could end up as a greenhouse plant. He is now doubly struck by fate.

When he is released from the hospital (the bullet is still in his head) he has lost his job and his house. The found shell of the bullet again shows the name of a weapons company. He ends up on the street. There he is noticed by a street vendor and comes into contact with a group of ‘outcasts from society’ who together run a company that recycles old materials. In this very colorful group, everyone has their own specialty. Bazil comes up with the idea of ​​fighting the weapons manufacturers and gets help from his new friends. The two arms manufacturers are fierce competitors and are fighting each other to the death in business terms.

The story that develops is very original and full of humor. In Bazil’s cunning plan, the weapons manufacturers are inventively pitted against each other with the ultimate goal of hitting them hard. Events pass us by with great speed, well-known locations of Paris play a strong supporting role and are a feast for the eyes. It is really a pleasure to enjoy this wonderful picaresque novel that makes us happy with its colorful visual language. The humor is at one moment cold-hearted, but also subtle and subtly tongue in cheek. The fun splashes off the screen, the large star cabinet with some old-timers from previous films is clearly looking forward to it and is doing great. The camera work is masterly with a great eye for details and has a magnificent splendor of colours. Finally, the director has managed to surprise us with a truly sublime denouement.

What a warmth and enthusiasm there is in this piece of wonderful cinema, the developments are really inventive and original. ‘Micmacs’ is wonderfully absurd, is full of surprising twists and is a visual spectacle that overwhelms and carries you away. To go! Delightful cinema!