Podium (2004)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Yann Moix

Writers:

Olivier Dazat (writer)
Yann Moix (novel)

Release Date:

11 February 2004 (Belgium)

Genre:

Comedy | Music | Sport

Tagline:

Name: Bernard Frédéric. Job: Claude François.

Plot:

Bernand Fréderic is a mediocre bank executive, married and with a son. He used to have antother profession: to be French star Claude Francois...

Plot Keywords:

Bank | Local Blockbuster | Dancing In The Street | Adultery | Song

Awards:

1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

Benoît Poelvoorde	...	Bernard Frédéric
Jean-Paul Rouve	...	Couscous
Julie Depardieu	...	Véro
Marie Guillard	...	Vanessa
Anne Marivin	...	Anne
Odile Vuillemin	...	Odile
Nadège Beausson-Diagne	...	Nadège
Nicolas Jouxtel	...	Sébastien
Olivier Mag	...	Claude David
Evelyne Thomas	...	Herself / Elle-même
Karine Lyachenko	...	Jacqueline
Bruno Abraham-Kremer	...	Monsieur Lombard
Dominique Besnehard	...	Le psychologue
Armelle	...	Laure
Thomas Derichebourg	...	Le garçon restaurant à volonté

Runtime:

France:95 min

Country:

Belgium | France

Language:

French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Greece:K | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud)

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Company:

Fidélité Productions

Trivia:

"Podium" refers to the title of the magazine created by Claude Francois in 1968.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Jean-Philippe (2006)

Soundtrack:

Le mal aimé (Daydreamer

Booster of energy

This is the story of Bernard Frederic, a "double" of Claude François (France's Elvis - author of classics such as "My Way"). A special television broadcast on doubles incites him to return to a life he stopped for his wife. We follow him during the steps leading to the big show...

There is something in this movie that makes it irresistible. Is it the story (very original), the rythm (fast but not furious :-)), the humor (I had a smile on my face almost the entire movie), the music (the mood was so positive that the audience sang along)? Or the cast? Benoît Poelvoorde (Bernard Frederic) has shown in this film just how talented he was. An outstanding performance then from him but also from his two co-stars the beautiful Julie Depardieu and the always disconcerting Jean-Paul Rouve. This movie should soon be crowned one of France's cult movies alongside classics such as "Le Père Noël est une Ordure", les "Visiteurs" or "Les Bronzés".

Except if you are looking for what is wrong in a movie, you shouldn't be disturbed by its minor flaws. However for those who read the book (such as me), there may be some level of disappointment (not for me though). You must know that the movie shows only part of Bernard Frederic's impressive personality. He is depicted in the book as impulsive, selfish, stingy but still very likeable. We get to see only a small selection of the ferociously funny situations from the book. But I guess it would have undermined the rythm of the film. So go see it if you want to feel a boost of energy!