La Zizanie is a French movie released in 1978 directed by comedy mastermind Claude Zidi. The film, featuring Louis de Funès and Annie Girardot at the top of their stardom...[Click "Lire la suite" to read more]
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La Zizanie @ Les Films Christian Fechner, Simar Films
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When La Zizanie was released, Louis de Funès was already a renowned actor in the movie industry, having featured in several comedy films such as Oscar and L'Aile ou La Cuisse. Annie Girardot was also an experienced actress in French cinema, but this was her first time to be featured in a comedy film alongside Louis de Funès.
The movie was released at a time when the French people were experiencing economic difficulties, and its theme addressed social and political problems, only to make fun of how politicians are so detached from reality. La Zizanie depicts the struggles of one family, their ups, and downs, their misunderstandings, and the common family issues that arise when different people from diverse backgrounds come together.
The storyline revolves around the life of Guillaume Daubray-Lacaze (Louis De Funès), a wealthy president of an umbrella factory, who is portrayed as a conservative and authoritative figure. Guillaume's life is thrown into chaos when his wife Bernadette (Annie Girardot) decides to stand for parliamentary elections opposing her husband’s conservative views.
The movie was well-ahead of its time as it touches on environmental issues. During the campaign, Bernadette promises voters that if elected, she will fight against the construction of a new factory that is polluting the environment. This reflects on France’s environmental policies at the time, when industries were polluting without proper regulation as this wasn't yet part of the mainstream conversation.
The film features a famous debate scene, which parodies a real-life debate between two French political heavyweights, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing and François Mitterrand. The parody debate scene in La Zizanie shows how the political process can be dominated by personal attacks rather than presenting actual policies that will improve the lives of the voters. The debate is comical as the candidates engage in personal attacks and political mudslinging. It highlights the theatrics of political campaigns and how politicians often use these tactics to try to sway voters. Through the parody debate scene, the film presents a satirical view of French politics and political campaigns.
La Zizanie was a huge success in France when it was released in 1978, grossing over 2.79 million admissions and breaking box-office records in Paris. It was also well-received globally, especially in the rest of Europe thanks the popularity of De Funès.
One key element that contributed to the film's success was its cast. Louis De Funès is impeccable as a famous businessman worried that any type of modernism is a threat to his conservative views. Annie Girardot's performance also stands out as she perfectly highlights the struggle of housewives in politics.
La Zizanie’s success also shows Zidi's directorial prowess. He was a prolific French director, producer, and screenwriter who worked in the French film industry for over 40 years. Zidi was renowned for his work in socially-engaged comedy films. Some of Zidi's most famous movies include Les Ripoux (1984), L'Aile ou la cuisse (1976), and Les Sous-doués (1980). which were all commercial success that became cult classics over time.
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