Tchao Pantin

There are plenty of reasons why people don’t like foreign films, ranging from the ridiculous (“I don’t like reading subtitles!”) to ill-conceived misconceptions (“They’re too slow.”) to general pettiness (“We make ‘em better in ‘Merica!”).  But sometimes even enlightened cinephiles can miss the cultural ramifications behind a successful import.  Take Tchao Pantin (1983) which was a major turning point in the career of its star, Coluche, a noted French comedian and TV personality who turned his first dramatic role into a César winning performance. The film’s title even became a shorthand expression for comedic actors trying to pull off the same trick.  But even without that background noise, director Claude Berri’s film is a multi-layered crowd-pleaser that finds the best of humanity in the least likely places.

Bensoussan (Richard Anconina), a struggling smack dealer strikes up an unlikely friendship with Lambert (Coluche), a perpetually drunk and cranky gas station attendant.  Despite their differences, both socially and racially, the two develop a bromance that shines some light into their dreary existence.  But a tragedy cuts things short and opens old wounds for Lambert, who teams up with a young punk rocker to try and put things right again.

 

It's hard to summarize Tchao Pantin (titled So Long, Stooge in English) without ruining the rare delicacy of its male bonding.  Suffice to say it’s a film of two halves, one a heartfelt character study, the other a neo-noir revenge story.  And although the tone shifts dramatically, one half wouldn’t work without the other.  And noneof it would work without Coluche who’s world-weary demeanor and fatalistic attitude shifts from pathetic to dangerous on a dime.  American audiences likely won’t appreciate the transformation, but they’ll be fascinated by the film all the same.

 

This 3000-copy limited edition from Radiance features a lovely 4K restoration with introduction from French scholar Michael Abecassis, 52-minute documentary on Coluche and the film’s impact, plus a trailer, reversible sleeve and collector’s booklet.

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