This “Limited Edition” Blu-ray from Radiance Films will be available for purchase on July 30th.
Radiance Films have really been making a name for themselves, releasing gems from around the world that aren’t as well known in North America as they should be. Their latest is the French picture Tchao Pantin aka So Long, Stooge. Based on a well-regarded novel from its home country, the movie was a huge box office success and critical darling, ultimately winning five Cesar Awards (the French equivalent of the Oscars).
Despite the film’s success in France and parts of Europe, it didn’t get much attention in North America and was left off the Academy Awards honor roll (both the original and English-translation of the title probably didn’t help matters for English-speaking audiences). Thankfully, the distributor is now making the film available on Blu-ray in a very nice transfer that emphasizes the gorgeous, award-winning cinematography. It’s an excellent disc that also includes a lengthy TV-documentary on the film and what it all meant to French citizens at the time.
The story is set mostly over evening hours in a run-down part of Paris. Lambert (Coluche) is a 40-ish, sullen, alcoholic gas station attendant working nights. During one evening shift, a young local named Bensoussan (Richard Anconina) stops when his moped breaks down. Over the course of several evenings, the pair become unlikely friends and the kid opens up about his troubles. Bensoussan explains that he is a half-Arab, half-Jew immigrant living on his own after the death of his adoptive parents. He’s now being forced to sell and courier drugs to survive, all for a man named Sylvio (Albert Dray). Lambert offers Bensoussan advice on how to impress a young woman named Lola (Agnès Soral) and warns him about his business dealings. Unfortunately, things come to a tragic end when Bensoussan is targeted by his employer and Lambert decides to seek revenge for a violent attack.
This picture is extremely well-acted. Coluche powerfully exudes quiet sadness as Lambert, and the other cast members hold their own onscreen with him. Everything is subtle and authentic as the characters get to know each other casually at the gas station and nearby bar.Truth be told, just about all of them, including Lola, have no business hanging out with each other, but are drawn together and end up relating due to the unfortunate circumstances in their lives. There’s definitely a nice arc for Lambert, who has some anti-immigrant attitudes at the start that slowly fade as he takes on more of a mentor role. His tragic past explains a great deal of why he ends up becoming a surrogate father and feels the need to seek some form of personal redemption for what occurs.
It’s also gorgeously shot. This area of Paris is filled with rundown apartments and drug-dealers, but the rain-soaked streets are bathed in neon and the picture is visually striking. It’s a beautiful look for the movie and one that hadn’t been attempted in the early 1980s. The photography manages to capture the grittiness of the crime-ridden environment yet still look picturesque. There’s just a hint of proper film grain in this stunning 4K picture restoration (approved by the director of photography). The gas station and apartment look so detailed and impressive that they almost become characters of their own.
The action in the film is also short and anything but pretty, particularly when Lambert seeks revenge. Of course, since this isn’t an American movie of the 80s, when the character finds himself mowing down crooks, he is only getting himself deeper and deeper into trouble. This is a very strong picture that, in some respects, may have been a little ahead of its time compared to early 80s crime cinema in other parts of the world.
The extras are also very informative. The 2003, nearly hour-long TV documentary on the feature goes into detail about how everything came together. One of the many fascinating chapters in this story involves Coluche himself. He was a famous stage comedian who satirized many politicians of the day and was so popular that in 1980, he became a candidate in the French presidential election. Sources in the documentary say that although it was all intended as a joke, he began polling extremely well. Coluche was soon forced out of the race by other candidates and the stress of the situation caused an end to his marriage as well as his show. Lonely and taking drugs to help with personal losses, many suggest that the real-life events may have been partly responsible for his incredible performance. The actor was suffering in many similar ways at the time to the character.
Coluche ultimately won a Best Actor Cesare for his performance and was using it as a stepping stone to rebuild his career, but died tragically just two years later in a motorcycle crash.
The rest of the cast and crew all have interesting stories about working on the picture and its continued popularity. It’s fun to hear co-star Richard Anconina tell a story about admitting to the director that he was roughly ten years younger than the Bensoussan character he was auditioning for (the actor does pull it off and won Best Supporting Actor for his work in the picture). The cinematographer also goes into the different visual styles he and director tried out before settling on the final look of the picture.
A French film expert also appears in a featurette that explains some of the movie’s elements that appealed to the public at the time. It was new to see a rundown, crime-ridden part of Paris used as the primary location in a film, and the personal details of the characters were also relatable. It seems that young people and old felt represented in this story and took a shine to the unique individuals being depicted.
Additionally, the disc includes a trailer.
This is a very spiffy-looking disc that does an exceptional job of presenting the award-winning picture to audiences around the world. One can easily understand why Tchao Pantin received accolades when it was originally released and the bonuses, including the tale of its creation, are fascinating too. Anyone who appreciates international cinemas would be wise to give this Blu-ray a look.