MICMACS (2009)

Directed By: Jean-Pierre Jenut
Written By: Jean-Pierre Jenut & Guillaume Laurant
Cinematography By: Tetsuo Nagata
Editor: Herve Schneid

Cast: Danny Boon, Julie Ferrier, Dominique Pinon


I really enjoyed this French language film due to not only it’s surrealist nature but also it’s quirkiness. The film plays almost like a throwback to silent film comedies mixed with Old screwball Comedies of the past. There is physical comedy all over the place.

This is the director’s first film in five years Since his last Film A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT. This is a smaller film for him then the grand style that his his films usually carry.

The film is about a middle aged man who lost his father to war and his mother to madness at a young age he grew up to work at a video-store one day he witnesses a shootout and a gun goes off and accidently shoots him in the head. He survives with the bullet lodged in his head. Once he is released from the hospital he loses his apartment, Clothes and his job. He blames it all on the gun and ammo manufactures and swears revenge while living on the streets he gets taken in by a rag tag group who all have different skills and he utilizes them as a second family to help him get revenge.

The film moves so fast and funny that even the minor social messages aren’t as annoying as they can be. Especially since you are not beaten over the head with it. The film is fun and meant to play that way. So you are never really worried about anything and have fun while it moves along almost like a live action cartoon for adults.

I wish I could say the film is as good as the earlier works of Jean Pierre Jenut, this one has a similar spirit to AMELIE then CITY OF LOST CHILDREN, but is more like A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT when it comes to quality. But I guarantee you you won’t be bored.

With his surrealism Jean Pierre Jenut always makes france look straight out of a fairytale, warm and full of wonder with contemporary themes and subjects but wonderful original characters. Who are never boring. His films also have a glow to them they are usually bathed in yellow. That bring out bright colors but make everything and everyone look sumptuous. At first it was thought to be him and his directing partner Marc Caro who he made 2 films with but since striking on his own his films have seemed to be more on the lighter side and less serious.

This film is a excellent rental

GRADE: B