It is always a treat to be able to laugh. In France there are several comedies been released that will do just that, and more. From hugely enjoyable feelgood comedies to dark satire movies. We have selected the very best recent French comedies. From the 90’s to 2013.
Delicatessen (1991) by filmmaker Jeunet
This mysterious and sometimes bewildering black comedy is the debut comedy of the calloboration between Marc Caro and Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Amelie Poulain, Un very long dimanche de francailles). It is the last film on our best French Movies of the last decades list. An honourable tenth position. The movie sets in a post-acopyptic World in which food is a difficult thing to come by. For some reason, the owner of an appartnment building is able to once in a while cook up a delicattesse for his residents. In Delicatessen the two directors have managed to create a very believable and fascinating universe. This amazing French movie is particularly dark, but the light humor makes it very endurable.
Le diner de cons (1998) – The Dinner Game
A french comedy that over the years has accumulated cult status. The concept has been a rather popular one as American remakes have been made (Dinner for Schmucks with Steve Carrell). It is about Pierre and his friends who weekly organize what is called as “un dîner de cons”. Everyone brings the dumbest guy he could find as a guest. Pierre is confident that his pick for this week -François Pignon- will blow everyone away. Another dark comedy classic.
Les Choristes
Small in its exterior, but great in its essence. Two old schoolmates look back on their younger years in a French correctional school for troubled boys. Their warmest thoughts go out to their teacher at that time, Matthieu. When matthieu turned up at the school he was faced with disobedient pupils and even worse, an unreasonably strict principal who ruled with the hard hand. In an attempt to sort the boys out, and at the same time to fulfil his own desires, he decides to teach them how to sing in a choir. To his and everyone else’s surprise the boys took a liking to it. He does not only teach them discipline, but he shapes them for the rest of their lives.
One of the French movies that is a truly heartwarming story with adorable characters, taking place in a great setting. The plot might be somewhat thin at times, but it nonetheless remains entertaining and moving. If you are looking for a feel-good movie than you cannot go wrong with this one. This French movie was welcomed with open hearts in France as well as internationally. It was nominated for 2 oscars, and a BAFTA award, but did not win any of them. Especially the music has really been rated very highly. A lot of awards have been awarded to the music of Bruno Coulais.
A recent feelgood comedy from France: Intouchables (2011)
A comedy that requries no introduction. It has been the box office hit internationally in 2012. A film that is not only funny, but also highly inspirational. One of our favorite feelgood comedies of recent years.
Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis – (2008)
The French movie theaters had not sold this many tickets since the ‘Titanic’. It is a film about a postman who was demoted to work in a remote Northern part of France. A place of which the rest of France looks down upon. It is a light French comedy that definitely ranks among the most popular ones ever produced. Also quite the feelgood film.
Upcoming French comedies in 2013 and 2014:
Read about The Other side of the Tracks in our Europe’s best comedy movies of 2013.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4XibKAyNv0
More European comedy:
– Funny British comedy movies – UK’s most hilarious comedies