Now that the fair nation of France is avidly watching television, millions of children stay up past their bedtime. In Paris a few devoted teachers have grown tired of the sight of sleeping pupils. Armed with canisters full of a special compound, they traipse over the rooftops à la Santa Claus in order to sabotage TV antennas. It's a perilous enterprise but then, what hero would shy away from a just fight ?
A highly topical comedy, "La grande lessive" denounced the way television stole both the heart and the energy of the young. The movie was made in 1968 and nowadays the problem has become even more toxic, due to the appearance of gadgets like laptops and smartphones. Indeed, many professional teachers will pine for the days when they just had to compete with television.
"La grande lessive" is quite amusing, with an engaging story, interesting characters and funny jokes. (Mind you, I'm not sure that the character of the sex-obsessed dentist has aged all that well.) The satire has a genuine bite, depicting a whole nation clinging to its television set like an addict to his fix. And just like addicts, the television viewers respond very badly to the prospect of going without. For instance, when the screens turn blank all over an apartment block, a panicked mob drags a repairman out of his shop, whether he wants the job or not.
Comedy highlight : the seasoned streetwalker moving on to a higher level.
A highly topical comedy, "La grande lessive" denounced the way television stole both the heart and the energy of the young. The movie was made in 1968 and nowadays the problem has become even more toxic, due to the appearance of gadgets like laptops and smartphones. Indeed, many professional teachers will pine for the days when they just had to compete with television.
"La grande lessive" is quite amusing, with an engaging story, interesting characters and funny jokes. (Mind you, I'm not sure that the character of the sex-obsessed dentist has aged all that well.) The satire has a genuine bite, depicting a whole nation clinging to its television set like an addict to his fix. And just like addicts, the television viewers respond very badly to the prospect of going without. For instance, when the screens turn blank all over an apartment block, a panicked mob drags a repairman out of his shop, whether he wants the job or not.
Comedy highlight : the seasoned streetwalker moving on to a higher level.