Touché, Monsieur
"At least, you'll never be a vegetable: even artichokes have heart"
You're probably already familiar with this memorable line from Jean-Pierre Jeunet's Amélie (2001) but did you know that French cinema is full of similarly stinging insults or retorts?
Some of them are more 'general' and aren't deprived of existential poetry while others work on a subtly self-deprecating way, and the rest is so delightfully harsh the only possible answer is, as they say in French, "Touché!".
Which of these French movies' quotes would you most like to use in real life?
Après avoir voté, vous pouvez discuter ici
You're probably already familiar with this memorable line from Jean-Pierre Jeunet's Amélie (2001) but did you know that French cinema is full of similarly stinging insults or retorts?
Some of them are more 'general' and aren't deprived of existential poetry while others work on a subtly self-deprecating way, and the rest is so delightfully harsh the only possible answer is, as they say in French, "Touché!".
Which of these French movies' quotes would you most like to use in real life?
Après avoir voté, vous pouvez discuter ici
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- DirectorGeorges LautnerStarsLino VenturaBernard BlierFrancis BlancheA dying mob boss hands over his business to an old friend, Fernand. The boss' assistants want to get rid of the latter. But are the Volfoni brothers and Théo real threats? Ensuing fights and shootouts are more comical than deadly."Damn fools dare everything. In fact, that's how you spot them"
- DirectorGilles GrangierStarsJean GabinMartine CarolFrançoise Rosay"Le Dabe" retired many years ago and now he lives in the Tropics where he owns stables and horses. He is a very rich man. He was the king of all money counterfeiters. He is contacted from Paris to organize a new job. He says no. But when he finds out the the currency that should be counterfeited is the Dutch florin, he accepts immediately. He retired after having counterfeited 100 florin notes just before the Queen Wilhelmina retired them from circulation. He flies to Paris. But the gang is not to be trusted, at least not all of them."Trusting honest people is the only risk adventurous professions will ever take"
- DirectorDenys de La PatellièreStarsHardy KrügerLino VenturaMaurice BiraudDuring World War II, French commandos join forces with a German officer in order to survive the African desert."Two intellectuals sitting down will never go as far as one simpleton walking"
- DirectorHenri VerneuilStarsJean-Paul BelmondoLino VenturaReginald KernanA rough trucker assigns his new truck and its mysterious cargo to his newest employee, only to see it hijacked by one of his experienced drivers. Now, his friends are after him to retrieve the goods. Are 100,000 dollars worth dying for?"You know, when 260-pound dudes do the talking, 120-pound dudes do the listening"
- DirectorGérard OuryStarsLouis de FunèsYves MontandAlice SapritchIn 17th-century Spain, the Minister of Finance tries to dishonor the queen with an overly complex plan."The poor is meant to be poorer and the rich richer!"
- DirectorMichel AudiardStarsAnnie GirardotBernard BlierMireille DarcHousemaid Georgette (Girardot) loves to gossip and this causes major trouble to people around her."I've seen phoneys in my life... but you're a synthesis!"
- DirectorJames HuthStarsJean DujardinClovis CornillacÉlodie BouchezA wannabe surfer parties on the French Riviera while awaiting the perfect wave."I'm having a party tonight, how would you feel about... not coming?"
- DirectorGeorges LautnerStarsJean GabinDany CarrelJean GavenSix months before his retirement from the criminal police, inspector Joss finds his colleague Gouvion dead, in a poorly faked suicide attempt. Joss loses his temper, and investigates on his own, which leads him through the bas-fond of Paris..."I think when morons will be sent into orbit, you won't stop turning around."
- DirectorMaurice PialatStarsMarlène JobertJean YanneChristine FabrégaA husband and wife in a loveless marriage struggle to remain ignorant to their failed relationship."Not only are you vulgar, but you're common!"
- DirectorMarcel PagnolStarsFernandelOrane DemazisFernand CharpinMeeting a movie team on location near his house, a young man gets a lot of encouragement for his dreaming career as a movie star in what was only sarcasm from the members of the team. This is the characteristic of a schpountz: someone who sees himself as a born movie comedian and is blind on the critics to his dream. After he has signed a fake contract which he blindly takes as genuine even if it is ridiculous, he goes to Paris without money to make his career."You're not good at nothing, you're bad at everything!"
- DirectorGilles GrangierStarsPierre FresnayJean GabinNoël-NoëlThree old drinking buddies, accomplices and pranksters, decide to leave their village for a promising retirement home, walking through the countryside."If you go as fast as I f--- you, for once you'll be ahead of schedule!"
- DirectorHenri VerneuilStarsJean GabinJean-Paul BelmondoSuzanne FlonAlbert is an inn owner who vowed never to drink again if he and his wife survived the war. They did, and the reformed alcoholic keeps his vow. But times have changed and soon after the war, Albert comes in contact with Gabriel, a young man prone to heavy bouts with the bottle. Gabriel is conflicted over visiting his young daughter in a nearby school and in a moment of nostalgia, Albert takes off with him on one major binge -- and havoc results."You're bugging me gently, affectionately, with love... but you're bugging me!"
- DirectorJean-Marie PoiréStarsAnémoneJosiane BalaskoMarie-Anne ChazelTwo neurotics, working for a suicide hotline on the night of Christmas Eve, get caught up in a catastrophe when a pregnant woman, her abusive boyfriend, and a transvestite visit their office."I hate to speak ill of people, but such a nice person indeed."
- DirectorMarcel CarnéStarsArlettyJean-Louis BarraultPierre BrasseurThe theatrical life of a beautiful courtesan in 1830s Paris and the four men who love her."Not only are you rich, but you want to be loved as if you are poor."
- DirectorPatrice LeconteStarsJosiane BalaskoMichel BlancMarie-Anne ChazelEight tourists who met in a holiday camp on the Ivory Coast are reunited for a skiing holiday."I think you and I have the same problem: the point is that we cannot really rely on our looks, especially you."
- DirectorHenri VerneuilStarsJean GabinJean-Paul BelmondoSuzanne FlonAlbert is an inn owner who vowed never to drink again if he and his wife survived the war. They did, and the reformed alcoholic keeps his vow. But times have changed and soon after the war, Albert comes in contact with Gabriel, a young man prone to heavy bouts with the bottle. Gabriel is conflicted over visiting his young daughter in a nearby school and in a moment of nostalgia, Albert takes off with him on one major binge -- and havoc results."If stupidity isn't reimbursed by health insurance, you'll end up completely broke"
- DirectorMichel AudiardStarsFrançoise RosayBernard BlierMarlène JobertRita will play her relationships, especially in love, among the crooks to get her share of gold bars."A pigeon might be stupider than a dolphin, but at least it flies!"
- DirectorMaurice PialatStarsMarlène JobertJean YanneChristine FabrégaA husband and wife in a loveless marriage struggle to remain ignorant to their failed relationship."Your only pride is your mediocrity"
- DirectorClaude Autant-LaraStarsJean GabinBourvilJeannette BattiTwo men carry at night four suitcases of contraband meat across German-occupied Paris during WWII. Their opposite personalities and strange encounters provoke different adventures - until they are arrested by the police."I ignore you, I sweep you off my memory, I wipe you out"
- DirectorPino Van LamsweerdeStarsRoger CarelPierre TornadeGraham BushnellAsterix and Obelix leave for Britain with a barrel of Getafix's magic potion to help the village of Anticlimax, Asterix's Breton cousin, resist the Roman invasion."There are no fat guys, only one and he's not fat!"
- DirectorJean-Marie PoiréStarsAnémoneJosiane BalaskoMarie-Anne ChazelTwo neurotics, working for a suicide hotline on the night of Christmas Eve, get caught up in a catastrophe when a pregnant woman, her abusive boyfriend, and a transvestite visit their office."Therese isn't ugly, she doesn't have an easy physique, that's all"
- DirectorClaude MillerStarsLino VenturaMichel SerraultRomy SchneiderA police inspector, suspecting an attorney of two child sex murders, has him held for a questioning session that goes on for hours."Mediocrities resign themselves to the success of exceptional people. They applaud the gifted, the champions, but the success of one of their own exasperates them. It strikes them as an injustice"
- DirectorGilles GrangierStarsJean GabinMartine CarolFrançoise Rosay"Le Dabe" retired many years ago and now he lives in the Tropics where he owns stables and horses. He is a very rich man. He was the king of all money counterfeiters. He is contacted from Paris to organize a new job. He says no. But when he finds out the the currency that should be counterfeited is the Dutch florin, he accepts immediately. He retired after having counterfeited 100 florin notes just before the Queen Wilhelmina retired them from circulation. He flies to Paris. But the gang is not to be trusted, at least not all of them."If stupidity could be measured, he'd be the yardstick"
- DirectorClaude Autant-LaraStarsJean GabinBourvilJeannette BattiTwo men carry at night four suitcases of contraband meat across German-occupied Paris during WWII. Their opposite personalities and strange encounters provoke different adventures - until they are arrested by the police."Look how cute he is with his alcoholic face and his rotten flesh! And soft all over, nothing but soft!"
- DirectorDidier BourdonBernard CampanStarsDidier BourdonBernard CampanPascal LégitimusThree half-brothers are reunited at their mother's funeral. After being told of their inheritance they quickly spend the money, only to find out that they will not receive it after all. The men grow closer while deciding how to proceed."She's nice... but she's ugly. You're ugly ... and you're stupid too"