"Souvenez-vous de vos vingt ans/ mais oui, mais oui, c'était longtemps" sang star Daniel Auteuil in the soundtrack of box-office hit "Les sous-doués". He was referring, of course, to the professors of the conservative school Louis XIV, in which he was a student. Don't mistake me here. He went there as the hero of this amazing film, and taught millions of spectators what a good French comedy is.
Auteuil is Bébel, the leader of a clique of pranksters, who try and succeed in not passing the famous Baccalaureate exam (aka the Bac) every year. When they score a historic zero percent passing rate, the principal of the school (Maria Pacôme) decides to enforce strict measures in order to transform these idlers to serious students. Of course, she doesn't take in account their smartness, resulting in hilarious confirmations between her and them. The only thing that convinces them to pass the exam is a prank gone wrong, which could have as consequence their going to prison. Except, of course, if they pass.
This film is nothing more than a succession of gags, so well-crafted, though, that one can't hold their laugh when watching the movie. From a learning machine, that smacks the user if they don't know the subject, to a pen controlled from distance by another user, that lets the student write without trying, both sides use methods bordering on the absurd to succeed in their cause, that is, either to force the students to pass, or to succeed without effort. Cheaters the world over couldn't compete with the ingeniousness of the pranks that these under-gifted (hence "Les sous-doués") students devise.
This is because they were based on real life. Director Claude Zidi got the idea for the movie, and its unparalleled content, from his daughter's antics when passing the Bac. Having no money, and needing to repay his creditors, he made this movie on a shoestring budget, with only the talent of his cast and the originality of his jokes as help.
Speaking of the actors, their performances will surely be exemplary for a comedy for years to come. Not falling into the trap of being unnecessarily serious, or hyperbolic, they mostly shone through their comedic timing. In short, they were outright hilarious, bordering on the ridiculous sometimes, but generally serving the script well with their passion and charm. Daniel Auteuil stole the show for the first time, this being the film that made him famous. The actor now known for his multifaceted portrayal of tragic heroes showed then another aspect of his abilities, being the most recognisable and relatable of the characters, the lover of little effort, the ingenious planner of pranks, the popular yet gentle guy one doesn't often see in comedies, let alone French ones. In a country with one of the most rigid school systems, this comedy was met with success because its characters were what few students could be; free and yet successful, having fun of themselves while taking one of the most difficult exams . Not even the strictest disciplinarian could put them in order, because there was no need in trying to do so. These teachers were too far removed from their students in order to understand them.
This is why Auteuil sang "Souvenez-vous de vos vingt ans/ mais oui, mais oui, c'était longtemps". The faculty of the high school could never return in the time they were twenty, they were too much absorbed in the exam-centered system in which they taught. Still, school is not all about exams. So, the next time the Bac comes, I suggest taking a look in this cult classic, that completely denigrated this exam and emphasized the need to have fun even in the most stressful of situations. That it is better to be a "sous-doué" rather than a genius.
Around whom are the best movies centered, after all?
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