Strange that nobody in France has reviewed this little comedy yet;it was made by Jérôme Enrico ,Robert's son (who directed some memorable works such as "Au Cur De La Vie" and "Les Aventuriers").
One of Bernadette Lafont's last parts ,she really shines in her portrayal of an embittered (and shameless) retired woman ,who has only got 600 Euros per month to live ;that's not a minor detail:a lot of retired people do not have enough to live in France and the charity organizations are currently working overtime (The Restaurants Du Cur have seen their number raise by 10% this year.)
Paulette is too proud to beg!during the cast and credits ,we see the story of her life and how she lost her restaurant which (infamy!) fell into aliens' hands!A catholic ,she often goes to confession-and the priest is a black man ,another sign of the times!-.She is at odds with her daughter ,who married a black cop,and she despises her charming little Grandson she calls "Bamboula"(offensive racist term ).
By chance,she discovers that drugs mean a lot of dough;so why not becoming a new dealer in town? "The police would never suspect an old lady " she says to the local big shot called Vito;but the young dealers around do not like unfair competition and they tell her so. So she's got to find a new way to sell her stuff:unintentionally ,her adorable grandson will give her the solution to all her problems ;besides she is a fine pastry cook....
As a poor honest woman ,she was nasty and hateful;the more illegal she gets ,the more human she becomes;gone is her racism ;a redemption tale indeed,morally and physically :the ugly old lady is transformed into a coquette still fine-looking woman.
Although the movie loses steam after the casino episode ,it's Reductio Ad Absurdum that evil can spawn good and even help ....fix the roof of the Church.
One of Bernadette Lafont's last parts ,she really shines in her portrayal of an embittered (and shameless) retired woman ,who has only got 600 Euros per month to live ;that's not a minor detail:a lot of retired people do not have enough to live in France and the charity organizations are currently working overtime (The Restaurants Du Cur have seen their number raise by 10% this year.)
Paulette is too proud to beg!during the cast and credits ,we see the story of her life and how she lost her restaurant which (infamy!) fell into aliens' hands!A catholic ,she often goes to confession-and the priest is a black man ,another sign of the times!-.She is at odds with her daughter ,who married a black cop,and she despises her charming little Grandson she calls "Bamboula"(offensive racist term ).
By chance,she discovers that drugs mean a lot of dough;so why not becoming a new dealer in town? "The police would never suspect an old lady " she says to the local big shot called Vito;but the young dealers around do not like unfair competition and they tell her so. So she's got to find a new way to sell her stuff:unintentionally ,her adorable grandson will give her the solution to all her problems ;besides she is a fine pastry cook....
As a poor honest woman ,she was nasty and hateful;the more illegal she gets ,the more human she becomes;gone is her racism ;a redemption tale indeed,morally and physically :the ugly old lady is transformed into a coquette still fine-looking woman.
Although the movie loses steam after the casino episode ,it's Reductio Ad Absurdum that evil can spawn good and even help ....fix the roof of the Church.