Le Pion (1978) - film review

Bertrand Barabi is a schoolteacher in a provincial French town who dreams of giving up his job to start a literary career.  Tormented by his pupils and treated with contempt by his colleagues, he lacks the confidence to find a publisher for his first novel.   His neighbour, Dominique Benech, encourages him to persevere and, with the support of a well-known author he finally achieves his dream...

Not a great film, admittedly, but Le Pion isn’t without a certain charm, thanks to its sympathetic cast and plethora of imaginative visual gags.  The film is a gentle satire on state education and the world of contemporary literature, both of which appear to be tainted by snobbery, malice and petty self-interest.  It is unevenly paced and at times lacking in focus, but Henri Guybet turns in an engaging performance and the presence of such likeable stars as Claude Jade and Claude Piéplu amply makes up for the film’s obvious shortcomings.

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