"This man would have bugged me all my life."

Speaking as one who is not exactly enamoured of Sacha Guitry's overblown, star-studded historical extravaganzas and who much appreciates his more intimate offerings, it is a joy to come across this, his penultimate film, in which he reconnects with his greatest love: caustic comedy.

Guitry was essentially a theatre animal for whom the verbal mattered more than the visual. The dialogue here sparkles, the piece unfolds masterfully and is extremely imaginative with the scenes in the clinic and courtroom approaching the surreal whilst the overall quirkiness is underlined by the score of Jean Francaix.

The icing on the cake of course is the casting of Jean Poiret as idler Philippe and Michel Serrault as burglar Albert who had impressed Guitry with their immensely successful cabaret act. Their comic timing is impeccable and the way they bounce off each other is a joy to behold. Fast forward seventeen years and this duo struck gold with Poiret's play 'La Cage aux Folles' which ran for five years and was subsequently filmed with Serrault reprising his Albin/Zaza and Poiret replaced by Ugo Tognazzi as Renato.

One would imagine that the theme of a man being imprisoned for the crime of another is a reference to Guitry's internment as a suspected Vichy collaborationist during the feeding frenzy that followed the Liberation. Although released without charge the stigma remained and Guitry became an easy target for the leftist press.

Nearly seventy years on this remains a comic gem which can be happily revisited.

French-language cinema, whether in France, Québec, or other Francophone regions, explores cultural identity, social change, and the tension between the individual and society. French cinema is not only celebrated for its intellectual experimentation and auteur traditions, but also its success in mainstream comedy, romance, and commercial entertainment. In Québec, films often focus on questions of language, belonging, and community within a distinct cultural landscape.

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The comedy genre refers to a category of entertainment that aims to amuse and entertain audiences by using humor, wit, and comedic situations. Comedies are created with the primary intention of eliciting laughter and providing lighthearted enjoyment. They encompass a wide range of styles, tones, and themes, appealing to various tastes and audiences.

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The crime genre features criminal activities, investigations, law enforcement, crimes, and the pursuit of justice. Crime stories often revolve around the planning, execution, and consequences of criminal acts, as well as the efforts to solve and prevent such acts. They explore various aspects of criminal behavior, motives, and the moral dilemmas faced by both perpetrators and those seeking to uphold the law.

James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)

The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

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A man becomes the lover of his former persecutor's wife.

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Lovers and Thieves

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