Le Père Noël est une ordure (1982)
Directed by Jean-Marie Poiré

Film Review

Although it was initially very ill-received when it was first released in France in the 1980s, Le Père Noël est une ordure has since matured (as a fine wine might) into one of that country's most highly regarded cult classics.  Admittedly, the film's anarchically dark humour is unlikely to appeal to all tastes, and some spectators will undoubtedly be shocked by the grotesquely caricaturised treatment which is meted out to such unfortunate individuals as beaten housewives and suicidal depressives.  (Advice to a man holding a gun to his head: "Just press the button...")  Beneath the apparently juvenile humour and chaotic excesses, there is actually quite a serious side to this film, and it makes some cogent observations about how we as a society behave during the Christmas period.

What Le Père Noël est une ordure offers is fundamentally a grim satire on the way in which individuals in difficulty are trampled on and ignored by a society that is caught up in its own egocentric excesses.  The cynicism and ineptitude of a Samaritans-like social services team (headed by, of all people, Thierry Lhermitte) reflects a world in which supposedly right-minded individuals respond to the misfortune of others mechanically, without compassion or commitment.  The glitzy fairytale like opening to the film soon fades away to expose the grim reality of life which is lived by those on the margins - financial insecurity, domestic violence, personal disorders, and worse.  We may give up our time and our money to helps others in distress, but are we really bothered?

For those who are not easily offended, Le Père Noël est une ordure is an extremely funny film, one which certainly deserves its classic status.  Intelligently scripted and performed with real comic flair, it manages to be both entertaining and thought-provoking, without getting overwhelmed by the depressing nature of its subject and without slipping too deeply into the mire of indecency.

The film was directed by Jean-Marie Poiré, who later went on to achieve an enormous popular success with Les Visiteurs (1993).  It was based on a successful stage play which was written and performed by that remarkable team of comic performers, L'Équipe du Splendid, most of whom appear in this film and many of whom have since gone on to become major stars in France.  With so many talented performers - incuding Thierry Lhermitte, Christian Clavier, Anémone , Josiane Balasko, Marie-Anne Chazel and Gérard Jugnot - all perfect in their roles and all giving no less than 100 per cent, Le Père Noël est une ordure is a film to savour.

Film Synopsis

Christmas is always a busy time for the staff of SOS Détresse-Amitié, a Paris-based phone-in counselling service that seeks to console the capital's depressed and distressed.  This Christmas things will be more eventful than usual.  As Pierre and Thérèse man the phones, dispensing words of comfort to the usual crop of Yuletide suicides, their colleague Madame Musquin heads home to celebrate Christmas Eve with her family, only to get herself stuck in the lift.  Thérèse receives a frantic call from a pregnant homeless woman, Zézette, who is in a desperate state after walking out on her pathologically aggressive husband, Félix.  It seems the latter is chasing after her, dressed in a Father Christmas outfit and threatening all manner of abuse. 

Moments later, the wretched Zézette burst into the offices of SOS Détresse, closely followed by her overwrought husband, who is now intent on murder.  Pierre and Thérèse manage to subdue Félix and, one casual suicide attempt later, he is safely confined to a hospital.  No sooner has Madame Musquin been liberated from her metal prison than another weirdo shows up, in the guise of Katia, a hypochondriac transvestite who is convinced that Pierre is his perfect soul mate.  Other distractions are provided by an over-friendly Bulgarian neighbour, Monsieur Preskovitch, who insists on giving everyone totally indigestible cakes.

Just when things were beginning to quieten down a little, Félix shows up unexpectedly and, now clearly unhinged, starts menacing everyone with a loaded gun.  In the ensuing mêlée, Katia sustains a minor foot injury, a hapless lift engineer is shot dead and Cupid gets up to his usual mischief.   As Pierre and Thérèse take a romantic bath together, Félix and Zézette patch up their differences and occupy themselves by disposing of the dead body.  The wild animals in Vincennes zoo are in for a treat the next day.  Well, it is Christmas...