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| cinematography = [[Bruno Nuytten]]
| cinematography = [[Bruno Nuytten]]
| editing = [[Hervé de Luze]]
| editing = [[Hervé de Luze]]
| distributor = AMLF
| distributor = [[Pathé|AMLF]]
| released = {{film date|1983|12|21|df=yes}}
| released = {{film date|1983|12|21|df=yes}}
| runtime = 100 minutes
| runtime = 100 minutes
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| gross = €32.5 million
| gross = €32.5 million
}}
}}
'''''So Long, Stooge''''' ([[French language|French]] title: ''Tchao Pantin'') is a [[1983 in film|1983]] [[film]] [[Film director|directed]] by [[Claude Berri]]. It is based on a [[novel]] by [[Alain Page]].
'''''So Long, Stooge''''' ([[French language|French]] title: ''Tchao Pantin'') is a [[1983 in film|1983]] [[film]] [[Film director|directed]] by [[Claude Berri]]. It is based on a [[novel]] by [[Alain Page]].


[[Coluche]], the lead, won the [[César Award for Best Actor]]. The film was selected as the French entry for the [[Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film|Best Foreign Language Film]] at the [[57th Academy Awards]], but was not accepted as a nominee.<ref>Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences</ref>
[[Coluche]], the lead, won the [[César Award for Best Actor]]. The film was selected as the French entry for the [[Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film|Best Foreign Language Film]] at the [[57th Academy Awards]], but was not accepted as a nominee.<ref>Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences</ref>
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== Production ==
== Production ==
=== Development ===
=== Development ===
In 1982, during a train trip, producer Christian Spillmaecker read several novels, including ''Tchao Pantin'' by [[Alain Page]], recently published.<ref name="telestar">Olivier Petit, "Tchao Pantin”: a cult film born in pain, ''[[Télé Star]]'', N ° 2032, {{date| September 7, 2015}}, p. 63 <small> ([https://www.telestar.fr/culture/tchao-pantin-arte-un-tournage-tres-comïque-pour-coluche-photos-167245 read online]) </small>.</ref> Spillmaecker was thrilled by the story of Lambert, a depressed former cop turned pump attendant, determined to find the murderers of a small dealer whom he identifies with his son.<ref name="telestar" /> The producer passed the book to [[Claude Berri]] at the last minute. Although not very enthusiastic, Berri saw in Lambert a role for [[Coluche]], with whom he had filmed ''[[Le Pistonné]]'' and ''[[The Schoolmaster]]'' (Berri also produced a few films with Coluche) and bought the rights to the novel.<ref name="telestar" /> He passed the subject to the actor who at first refused such a dark role.<ref name="telestar" />
In 1982, during a train trip, producer Christian Spillmaecker read several novels, including ''Tchao Pantin'' by [[Alain Page]], recently published.<ref name="telestar">Olivier Petit, "Tchao Pantin”: a cult film born in pain, ''[[Télé Star]]'', N ° 2032, {{date|September 7, 2015}}, p. 63 ([https://www.telestar.fr/culture/tchao-pantin-arte-un-tournage-tres-comïque-pour-coluche-photos-167245 read online]) .</ref> Spillmaecker was thrilled by the story of Lambert, a depressed former cop turned pump attendant, determined to find the murderers of a small dealer whom he identifies with his son.<ref name="telestar" /> The producer passed the book to [[Claude Berri]] at the last minute. Although not very enthusiastic, Berri saw in Lambert a role for [[Coluche]], with whom he had filmed ''[[Le Pistonné]]'' and ''[[The Schoolmaster]]'' (Berri also produced a few films with Coluche) and bought the rights to the novel.<ref name="telestar" /> He passed the subject to the actor who at first refused such a dark role.<ref name="telestar" />


According to [[Fred Romano]], Coluche's partner at the time, the latter "was full of complexes" and did "not want to be caught in a game where he was not in control".<ref name="telestar" /> However, Coluche facing a large tax debt, signed to play Lambert, but his heart was not in it. Indeed, the actor was going through a bad patch: his wife [[Véronique Colucci | Véronique]] left him with their two children and his friend [[Patrick Dewaere]] committed suicide with the rifle presented to him by Coluche.<ref name="telestar" /> Gnawed by remorse and heartache, undermined by debt, Coluche plunged into drugs.<ref name="telestar" /> This bad patch was going to deepen his portrayal of the character.<ref name="telestar" />
According to [[Fred Romano]], Coluche's partner at the time, the latter "was full of complexes" and did "not want to be caught in a game where he was not in control".<ref name="telestar" /> However, Coluche facing a large tax debt, signed to play Lambert, but his heart was not in it. Indeed, the actor was going through a bad patch: his wife [[Véronique Colucci|Véronique]] left him with their two children and his friend [[Patrick Dewaere]] committed suicide with the rifle presented to him by Coluche.<ref name="telestar" /> Gnawed by remorse and heartache, undermined by debt, Coluche plunged into drugs.<ref name="telestar" /> This bad patch was going to deepen his portrayal of the character.<ref name="telestar" />


The role of young Bensoussan, a small dealer who befriends Lambert, was entrusted to [[Richard Anconina]], then little known to the general public. The role of Lola, a young punk who fell in love with Bensoussan and then Lambert, was given to to [[Agnès Soral]], who had filmed under the direction of Berri in ''[[A moment of distraction (film, 1977) | A moment of distraction]]''. The police officer in charge of the investigation is portrayed by [[Philippe Léotard]].
The role of young Bensoussan, a small dealer who befriends Lambert, was entrusted to [[Richard Anconina]], then little known to the general public. The role of Lola, a young punk who fell in love with Bensoussan and then Lambert, was given to [[Agnès Soral]], who had filmed under the direction of Berri in ''[[A Moment of Distraction]]''. The police officer in charge of the investigation is portrayed by [[Philippe Léotard]].


=== Filming ===
=== Filming ===
Shooting began on {{date|9 May 1983}} at [[Paris]]<ref>[http://cinema.encyclopedie.films.bifi.fr/index.php?pk=46826 BiFi file]</ref> with the sets provided by [[Alexandre Trauner]]. The gas station, which has disappeared since<ref>[http://www.parisfaitsoncinema.com/autour-du-cinema/les-classiques/coluche-pompiste-tragique-du-18eme-arrondissement-dans-tchao-pantin.html parisfaitsoncinema.com]</ref> (illuminated with neon, which was suggested by the chief operator Bruno Nuytten), was located rue Pajol, a stone's throw from the La Chapelle metro station<ref name="telerama2017">{{cite web| url=https://www.telerama.fr/television/tchao-pantin-le-role-d-une-vie-le-role-d-une-ville,157667.php | title=“Tchao Pantin”: the role of a life, the role of a city (updated on 1st February 2018) | website=Télérama | access-date=20 April 2019 | date=May 7, 2017 | author=Jacques Morice}}</ref> The film was also shot in [[Belleville, Paris | Belleville]].<ref name="telerama2017" />
Shooting began on {{date|9 May 1983}} at [[Paris]]<ref>[http://cinema.encyclopedie.films.bifi.fr/index.php?pk=46826 BiFi file]</ref> with the sets provided by [[Alexandre Trauner]]. The gas station, which has disappeared since<ref>[http://www.parisfaitsoncinema.com/autour-du-cinema/les-classiques/coluche-pompiste-tragique-du-18eme-arrondissement-dans-tchao-pantin.html parisfaitsoncinema.com]</ref> (illuminated with neon, which was suggested by the chief operator Bruno Nuytten), was located rue Pajol, a stone's throw from the La Chapelle metro station<ref name="telerama2017">{{cite web| url=https://www.telerama.fr/television/tchao-pantin-le-role-d-une-vie-le-role-d-une-ville,157667.php | title="Tchao Pantin": the role of a life, the role of a city (updated on 1st February 2018) | website=Télérama | access-date=20 April 2019 | date=May 7, 2017 | author=Jacques Morice}}</ref> The film was also shot in [[Belleville, Paris|Belleville]].<ref name="telerama2017" />


Shot at night in a deliberately gloomy atmosphere, the making of the film was complicated by Coluche whose condition sometimes forces it to be filmed from behind.<ref name="telestar" /> In addition, the actor did not take off his gas station attendant jacket outside of the shoot.<ref name="express"> {{cite web| url=http://www.lexpress.fr/diaporama/diapo-photo/culture/cinema/coluche-l-actor-en-11-films_1002952.html?p=10 | title=Coluche, the master of comedy in 11 films | website=L'Express | author=Thierry Chèze | date=June 17, 2011 | access-date=April 6, 2014}}</ref> Soral, to blend in with her role, lived the life of a punk and lost weight.<ref name="telestar" /> The actress, in an interview with [[Le Figaro | Figaro]] more than thirty years after the film's release, said that she became friendly with Coluche.<ref name="figaro"> {{cite web| url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/cinema/2016/12/15/03002-20161215ARTFIG00018-agnes-soral-pendant-tchao-pantin-coluche-souffrait.php | title=Agnès Soral: During "Tchao Pantin", Coluche suffered | website=Le Figaro | author =Bertrand Guyard | date =December 15, 2016 | access-date=April 20, 2019}}.</ref> According to Soral, who was not aware of Coluche's discomfort during the filming, the actors were in pain: besides Coluche, Anconina was coming out of a love affair, just like Léotard, who had just separated from [[Nathalie Baye]], but also Berri who was going through a complicated sentimental episode.<ref name="figaro" />
Shot at night in a deliberately gloomy atmosphere, the making of the film was complicated by Coluche whose condition sometimes forces it to be filmed from behind.<ref name="telestar" /> In addition, the actor did not take off his gas station attendant jacket outside of the shoot.<ref name="express">{{cite web| url=http://www.lexpress.fr/diaporama/diapo-photo/culture/cinema/coluche-l-actor-en-11-films_1002952.html?p=10 | title=Coluche, the master of comedy in 11 films | website=L'Express | author=Thierry Chèze | date=June 17, 2011 | access-date=April 6, 2014}}</ref> Soral, to blend in with her role, lived the life of a punk and lost weight.<ref name="telestar" /> The actress, in an interview with [[Le Figaro|Figaro]] more than thirty years after the film's release, said that she became friendly with Coluche.<ref name="figaro">{{cite web| url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/cinema/2016/12/15/03002-20161215ARTFIG00018-agnes-soral-pendant-tchao-pantin-coluche-souffrait.php | title=Agnès Soral: During "Tchao Pantin", Coluche suffered | website=Le Figaro | author =Bertrand Guyard | date =December 15, 2016 | access-date=April 20, 2019}}.</ref> According to Soral, who was not aware of Coluche's discomfort during the filming, the actors were in pain: besides Coluche, Anconina was coming out of a love affair, just like Léotard, who had just separated from [[Nathalie Baye]], but also Berri who was going through a complicated sentimental episode.<ref name="figaro" />


The slap that Coluche gives to Richard Anconina was very real, the latter said in an interview to Europe1.<ref name="europe1" /> At first, however, Coluche had not dared to hit him hard enough and the latter then asked him to give him a real slap<ref name="europe1"> {{cite web | url=https://www.europe1.fr/emissions/la-cour-des-grands/richard-anconina-raconte-la-gifle-de-coluche-dans-tchao-pantin-2861137|title=Richard Anconina recounts Coluche's slap in "Tchao Pantin" | website=Europe1 | access-date=April 20, 2016 | date=September 30, 2016}}.</ref> {{,}}.<ref name="avengers">[http://lemondedesavengers.fr/hors-serie/cinema/coluche/tchao-pantin Film review]</ref>
The slap that Coluche gives to Richard Anconina was very real, the latter said in an interview to Europe1.<ref name="europe1" /> At first, however, Coluche had not dared to hit him hard enough and the latter then asked him to give him a real slap.<ref name="europe1">{{cite web | url=https://www.europe1.fr/emissions/la-cour-des-grands/richard-anconina-raconte-la-gifle-de-coluche-dans-tchao-pantin-2861137|title=Richard Anconina recounts Coluche's slap in "Tchao Pantin" | website=Europe1 | access-date=April 20, 2016 | date=September 30, 2016}}.</ref><ref name="avengers">[http://lemondedesavengers.fr/hors-serie/cinema/coluche/tchao-pantin Film review]</ref>


The [[Punk rock | punk]] concert sequence takes place at the "[[Le Gibus | Gibus]]" (then called "Le Petit Gibus", described in the film as "a bar of [[Movement punk | punk]]s at République”), a tiny Parisian concert hall known at the time to be the [[CBGB | CBGB's]] Parisian. The group that stars in the movie are a famous punk band from the [[1980s]], "The Horde", and their singer [[Gogol Premier]]<ref name="avengers" /> {{,}}.<ref name="telestar02"> {{cite web|title=Tchao Pantin: 5 anecdotes on the cult film with Coluche [Photos]|date=09-06- 2016|access-date=2020-06-23|publication-date=}}.</ref>
The [[Punk rock|punk]] concert sequence takes place at the "[[Le Gibus|Gibus]]" (then called "Le Petit Gibus", described in the film as "a bar of [[Movement punk|punk]]s at République”), a tiny Parisian concert hall known at the time to be the [[CBGB | CBGB's]] Parisian. The group that stars in the movie are a famous punk band from the [[1980s]], "The Horde", and their singer [[Gogol Premier]].<ref name="avengers" /><ref name="telestar02">{{cite web|title=Tchao Pantin: 5 anecdotes on the cult film with Coluche [Photos]|date=September 6, 2016|publication-date=}}</ref>


The shots in the infamous districts of the north of Paris went not without a hitch, due to the embarrassment that the film crew caused for petty trafficking, but arrangements were finally made.<ref name="telestar" />
The shots in the infamous districts of the north of Paris went not without a hitch, due to the embarrassment that the film crew caused for petty trafficking, but arrangements were finally made.<ref name="telestar" />
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[[Claude Berri]] himself insisted that the film, shot in {{date | June 1983}}, be released in December of the same year in order to be able to compete in the [[César Awards|Césars]] of {{date | March 1984}}: he had a presentiment that Coluche would be rewarded.<ref name="express" />
[[Claude Berri]] himself insisted that the film, shot in {{date | June 1983}}, be released in December of the same year in order to be able to compete in the [[César Awards|Césars]] of {{date | March 1984}}: he had a presentiment that Coluche would be rewarded.<ref name="express" />


Released in theaters on {{date | 21 | December | 1983}} in France, ''Tchao Pantin'' started in third place at the box office the week of its release with more than 433,000 admissions, behind ''[[Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs]]'' and ''[[Les Compères]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://archives-box-office.eklablog.com/bo-hebdos-france-1983-c31182670/2 | title = BO France - December 27, 1983 | date = March 8, 2020 | website= Les Archives du Box-office | access-date= April 2, 2020 | author = FabriceBO}}.</ref> The following week, the film still remains in third place, while being seen by 851,188 admissions since its release, including 417,690 admissions during this period.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://archives-box-office.eklablog.com/bo-hebdos-france-1984-c31448734/24 | title= BO France - January 3, 1984 | date = March 9, 2020 | access-date=April 2, 2020 | author = FabriceBO | website = Les Archives du Box-office}}.</ref> The week of January 4, 1984, ''Tchao Pantin'' climbs to second place behind ''[[Rue Barbare]]'', which has just been released, with 383,850 entries, allowing the film to record a total of 1,235,038 entries.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://archives-box-office.eklablog.com/bo-hebdos-france-1984-c31448734/23 | title= BO France - January 10, 1984 | date = March 10, 2020 | access-date= April 2, 2020 | author = FabriceBO | website= Les Archives du Box-office}}.</ref> The feature film reached 2 million admissions at the start of February 1984.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://archives-box-office.eklablog.com/bo-hebdos-france-1984-c31448734/27 | title= BO France - February 7, 1984 | date = March 14, 2020 | access-date= April 9, 2020 | author = FabriceBO | website= Les Archives du Box-office}}.</ref> While he modestly pursues his theatrical career throughout the month of February, ''Tchao Pantin'' climbs back to 9th place following his triumph at the Césars in March 1984, which allows it to get closer to the 2,400,000 entries.<ref>{{cite web | language = | author = FabriceBO | title = BO France - March 6, 1984 | url = http://archives-box-office.eklablog.com/bo-hebdos-france-1984-c31448734/44 | website= Les Archives du Box-office | date = March 18, 2020 | access-date=April 9, 2020}}.</ref> The following week it moved up to third place at the box office with 224,565 entries, bringing the total to 2,600,970 entries.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://archives-box-office.eklablog.com/bo-hebdos-france-1984-c31448734/22|title=BO France - March 13, 1984 | date = March 19, 2020 | access-date= April 9, 2020 | author = FabriceBO | website= The Box-office Archives}}.</ref> The film passed the 3 million admissions mark the week of {{date | April 2, 1984}}, before leaving the top 30 at the end of April 1984.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://archives-box-office.eklablog.com/bo-hebdos-france-1984-c31448734/16 | title = BO France - April 24, 1984 | website= Les Archives du Box-office | access-date=April 9, 2020 | date = March 25, 2020 | author = FabriceBO}}.</ref> The film benefited from a theatrical revival in the summer of 1986, following the death of [[Coluche]], which allowed it to return to the weekly top 30 to pass the 3.5 million admissions mark per week. of {{date | June 25, 1986}}, only a few days after the death of the actor.<ref>[http://archives-box-office.eklablog.com/bo-hebdos-france-1986-c32157290/8 Weekly Box-office - 1st July 1986]</ref> Beginning August 1986, the film is still in the top 30 and has reached 3.7 million admissions.<ref>[http://archives-box-office.eklablog.com/bo-france-12-aout-1986-a196789824 BO Hebdo - 12 August 1986] (accessed 24 July 2020).</ref>
Released in theaters on {{date | 21 | December | 1983}} in France, ''Tchao Pantin'' started in third place at the box office the week of its release with more than 433,000 admissions, behind ''[[Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937 film)|Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs]]'' and ''[[Les Compères]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://archives-box-office.eklablog.com/bo-hebdos-france-1983-c31182670/2 | title = BO France - December 27, 1983 | date = March 8, 2020 | website= Les Archives du Box-office | access-date= April 2, 2020 | author = FabriceBO}}.</ref> The following week, the film still remained in third place, having been seen by 851,188 admissions since its release, including 417,690 admissions during this period.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://archives-box-office.eklablog.com/bo-hebdos-france-1984-c31448734/24 | title= BO France - January 3, 1984 | date = March 9, 2020 | access-date=April 2, 2020 | author = FabriceBO | website = Les Archives du Box-office}}.</ref> The week of January 4, 1984, ''Tchao Pantin'' climbed to second place behind ''[[Rue Barbare]]'', which had just been released, with 383,850 entries, allowing the film to record a total of 1,235,038 entries.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://archives-box-office.eklablog.com/bo-hebdos-france-1984-c31448734/23 | title= BO France - January 10, 1984 | date = March 10, 2020 | access-date= April 2, 2020 | author = FabriceBO | website= Les Archives du Box-office}}.</ref> The feature film reached 2 million admissions at the start of February 1984.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://archives-box-office.eklablog.com/bo-hebdos-france-1984-c31448734/27 | title= BO France - February 7, 1984 | date = March 14, 2020 | access-date= April 9, 2020 | author = FabriceBO | website= Les Archives du Box-office}}.</ref> While it was a modest success in cinemas throughout the month of February, ''Tchao Pantin'' climbed back to 9th place following his triumph at the Césars in March 1984, which allowed it to get closer to the 2,400,000 entries.<ref>{{cite web | language = | author = FabriceBO | title = BO France - March 6, 1984 | url = http://archives-box-office.eklablog.com/bo-hebdos-france-1984-c31448734/44 | website= Les Archives du Box-office | date = March 18, 2020 | access-date=April 9, 2020}}.</ref> The following week it moved up to third place at the box office with 224,565 entries, bringing the total to 2,600,970 entries.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://archives-box-office.eklablog.com/bo-hebdos-france-1984-c31448734/22|title=BO France - March 13, 1984 | date = March 19, 2020 | access-date= April 9, 2020 | author = FabriceBO | website= The Box-office Archives}}.</ref> The film passed the 3 million admissions mark the week of {{date | April 2, 1984}}, before leaving the top 30 at the end of April 1984.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://archives-box-office.eklablog.com/bo-hebdos-france-1984-c31448734/16 | title = BO France - April 24, 1984 | website= Les Archives du Box-office | access-date=April 9, 2020 | date = March 25, 2020 | author = FabriceBO}}.</ref> The film benefited from a theatrical revival in the summer of 1986, following the death of [[Coluche]], which allowed it to return to the weekly top 30 to pass the 3.5 million admissions mark per week. of {{date | June 25, 1986}}, only a few days after the death of the actor.<ref>[http://archives-box-office.eklablog.com/bo-hebdos-france-1986-c32157290/8 Weekly Box-office - 1st July 1986]</ref> Beginning August 1986, the film was still in the top 30 and reached 3.7 million admissions.<ref>[http://archives-box-office.eklablog.com/bo-france-12-aout-1986-a196789824 BO Hebdo - 12 August 1986] (accessed 24 July 2020).</ref>


In the end, it met with commercial success with 3,829,139 admissions, including 856,133 admissions in Paris, ranking 8th for films with the most admissions in the year of its release.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.jpbox-office.com/fichfilm.php?id=6821 | title= ''Tchao Pantin'': box-office | website=Jp's box -office | access-date= April 6, 2014}}</ref>
In the end, it met with commercial success with 3,829,139 admissions, including 856,133 admissions in Paris, ranking 8th for films with the most admissions in the year of its release.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.jpbox-office.com/fichfilm.php?id=6821 | title= ''Tchao Pantin'': box-office | website=Jp's box -office | access-date= April 6, 2014}}</ref>
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==External links==
==External links==
*{{imdb title|id=0086420|title=So Long, Stooge}}
*{{IMDb title|id=0086420|title=So Long, Stooge}}


{{Claude Berri}}
{{Claude Berri}}
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[[Category:1983 films]]
[[Category:1983 films]]
[[Category:1983 drama films]]
[[Category:1983 drama films]]
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[[Category:French films]]
[[Category:French drama films]]
[[Category:French drama films]]
[[Category:1980s French-language films]]
[[Category:1980s French-language films]]
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[[Category:Films featuring a Best Actor César Award-winning performance]]
[[Category:Films featuring a Best Actor César Award-winning performance]]
[[Category:Films featuring a Best Supporting Actor César Award-winning performance]]
[[Category:Films featuring a Best Supporting Actor César Award-winning performance]]
[[Category:Films whose cinematographer won the Best Cinematography César Award]]
[[Category:French neo-noir films]]
[[Category:French neo-noir films]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Claude Berri]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Claude Berri]]
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[[Category:1980s French films]]

{{1980s-France-film-stub}}

Revision as of 06:50, 25 November 2023

So Long, Stooge
So Long, Stooge film poster
Directed byClaude Berri
Written byAlain Page (novel)
Claude Berri
Produced byPierre Grunstein
StarringColuche
Philippe Léotard
Agnès Soral
CinematographyBruno Nuytten
Edited byHervé de Luze
Distributed byAMLF
Release date
  • 21 December 1983 (1983-12-21)
Running time
100 minutes
LanguageFrench
Box office€32.5 million

So Long, Stooge (French title: Tchao Pantin) is a 1983 film directed by Claude Berri. It is based on a novel by Alain Page.

Coluche, the lead, won the César Award for Best Actor. The film was selected as the French entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 57th Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee.[1]

Plot

Lambert, a withdrawn middle-aged man, works the night shift at a Parisian petrol station. He has no friends, no family; his only companion is his bottle of rum. One night, a young Arab man, Bensoussan, enters his shop — and his life. This stranger has also no family, lives alone in a dingy room, and scrapes together a living as a drug dealer. The two solitary men develop a friendship — but this is brutally brought to an end when Bensoussan is killed in front of Lambert. Lambert soon realises that his new friend was murdered by his drug dealing associates and sets out to avenge his death — assisted by Lola, a punk girl who knew Bensoussan briefly. By doing this, Lambert manages to come to terms with his own tragic past.

Cast

Production

Development

In 1982, during a train trip, producer Christian Spillmaecker read several novels, including Tchao Pantin by Alain Page, recently published.[2] Spillmaecker was thrilled by the story of Lambert, a depressed former cop turned pump attendant, determined to find the murderers of a small dealer whom he identifies with his son.[2] The producer passed the book to Claude Berri at the last minute. Although not very enthusiastic, Berri saw in Lambert a role for Coluche, with whom he had filmed Le Pistonné and The Schoolmaster (Berri also produced a few films with Coluche) and bought the rights to the novel.[2] He passed the subject to the actor who at first refused such a dark role.[2]

According to Fred Romano, Coluche's partner at the time, the latter "was full of complexes" and did "not want to be caught in a game where he was not in control".[2] However, Coluche facing a large tax debt, signed to play Lambert, but his heart was not in it. Indeed, the actor was going through a bad patch: his wife Véronique left him with their two children and his friend Patrick Dewaere committed suicide with the rifle presented to him by Coluche.[2] Gnawed by remorse and heartache, undermined by debt, Coluche plunged into drugs.[2] This bad patch was going to deepen his portrayal of the character.[2]

The role of young Bensoussan, a small dealer who befriends Lambert, was entrusted to Richard Anconina, then little known to the general public. The role of Lola, a young punk who fell in love with Bensoussan and then Lambert, was given to Agnès Soral, who had filmed under the direction of Berri in A Moment of Distraction. The police officer in charge of the investigation is portrayed by Philippe Léotard.

Filming

Shooting began on 9 May 1983 at Paris[3] with the sets provided by Alexandre Trauner. The gas station, which has disappeared since[4] (illuminated with neon, which was suggested by the chief operator Bruno Nuytten), was located rue Pajol, a stone's throw from the La Chapelle metro station[5] The film was also shot in Belleville.[5]

Shot at night in a deliberately gloomy atmosphere, the making of the film was complicated by Coluche whose condition sometimes forces it to be filmed from behind.[2] In addition, the actor did not take off his gas station attendant jacket outside of the shoot.[6] Soral, to blend in with her role, lived the life of a punk and lost weight.[2] The actress, in an interview with Figaro more than thirty years after the film's release, said that she became friendly with Coluche.[7] According to Soral, who was not aware of Coluche's discomfort during the filming, the actors were in pain: besides Coluche, Anconina was coming out of a love affair, just like Léotard, who had just separated from Nathalie Baye, but also Berri who was going through a complicated sentimental episode.[7]

The slap that Coluche gives to Richard Anconina was very real, the latter said in an interview to Europe1.[8] At first, however, Coluche had not dared to hit him hard enough and the latter then asked him to give him a real slap.[8][9]

The punk concert sequence takes place at the "Gibus" (then called "Le Petit Gibus", described in the film as "a bar of punks at République”), a tiny Parisian concert hall known at the time to be the CBGB's Parisian. The group that stars in the movie are a famous punk band from the 1980s, "The Horde", and their singer Gogol Premier.[9][10]

The shots in the infamous districts of the north of Paris went not without a hitch, due to the embarrassment that the film crew caused for petty trafficking, but arrangements were finally made.[2]

Release and reception

Claude Berri himself insisted that the film, shot in June 1983, be released in December of the same year in order to be able to compete in the Césars of March 1984: he had a presentiment that Coluche would be rewarded.[6]

Released in theaters on 21 in France, Tchao Pantin started in third place at the box office the week of its release with more than 433,000 admissions, behind Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Les Compères.[11] The following week, the film still remained in third place, having been seen by 851,188 admissions since its release, including 417,690 admissions during this period.[12] The week of January 4, 1984, Tchao Pantin climbed to second place behind Rue Barbare, which had just been released, with 383,850 entries, allowing the film to record a total of 1,235,038 entries.[13] The feature film reached 2 million admissions at the start of February 1984.[14] While it was a modest success in cinemas throughout the month of February, Tchao Pantin climbed back to 9th place following his triumph at the Césars in March 1984, which allowed it to get closer to the 2,400,000 entries.[15] The following week it moved up to third place at the box office with 224,565 entries, bringing the total to 2,600,970 entries.[16] The film passed the 3 million admissions mark the week of 2 April 1984, before leaving the top 30 at the end of April 1984.[17] The film benefited from a theatrical revival in the summer of 1986, following the death of Coluche, which allowed it to return to the weekly top 30 to pass the 3.5 million admissions mark per week. of 25 June 1986, only a few days after the death of the actor.[18] Beginning August 1986, the film was still in the top 30 and reached 3.7 million admissions.[19]

In the end, it met with commercial success with 3,829,139 admissions, including 856,133 admissions in Paris, ranking 8th for films with the most admissions in the year of its release.[20]

See also

References

  1. ^ Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Olivier Petit, "Tchao Pantin”: a cult film born in pain, Télé Star, N ° 2032, 7 September 2015, p. 63 (read online) .
  3. ^ BiFi file
  4. ^ parisfaitsoncinema.com
  5. ^ a b Jacques Morice (May 7, 2017). ""Tchao Pantin": the role of a life, the role of a city (updated on 1st February 2018)". Télérama. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  6. ^ a b Thierry Chèze (June 17, 2011). "Coluche, the master of comedy in 11 films". L'Express. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
  7. ^ a b Bertrand Guyard (December 15, 2016). "Agnès Soral: During "Tchao Pantin", Coluche suffered". Le Figaro. Retrieved April 20, 2019..
  8. ^ a b "Richard Anconina recounts Coluche's slap in "Tchao Pantin"". Europe1. September 30, 2016. Retrieved April 20, 2016..
  9. ^ a b Film review
  10. ^ "Tchao Pantin: 5 anecdotes on the cult film with Coluche [Photos]". September 6, 2016. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  11. ^ FabriceBO (March 8, 2020). "BO France - December 27, 1983". Les Archives du Box-office. Retrieved April 2, 2020..
  12. ^ FabriceBO (March 9, 2020). "BO France - January 3, 1984". Les Archives du Box-office. Retrieved April 2, 2020..
  13. ^ FabriceBO (March 10, 2020). "BO France - January 10, 1984". Les Archives du Box-office. Retrieved April 2, 2020..
  14. ^ FabriceBO (March 14, 2020). "BO France - February 7, 1984". Les Archives du Box-office. Retrieved April 9, 2020..
  15. ^ FabriceBO (March 18, 2020). "BO France - March 6, 1984". Les Archives du Box-office. Retrieved April 9, 2020..
  16. ^ FabriceBO (March 19, 2020). "BO France - March 13, 1984". The Box-office Archives. Retrieved April 9, 2020..
  17. ^ FabriceBO (March 25, 2020). "BO France - April 24, 1984". Les Archives du Box-office. Retrieved April 9, 2020..
  18. ^ Weekly Box-office - 1st July 1986
  19. ^ BO Hebdo - 12 August 1986 (accessed 24 July 2020).
  20. ^ "Tchao Pantin: box-office". Jp's box -office. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
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