Les Copains du dimanche (1958)

Les Copains du dimanche is a French film comedy-drama first released in 1958, directed by Henri Aisner.  The film stars Jean-Paul Belmondo, Yves Deniaud, Paul Frankeur, Marc Cassot and Julien Bertheau.  Our overall rating for this film is: mediocre.


A small group of young people who work in a factory spend their weekends trying to renovate a light aircraft.  They are helped by a former RAF pilot who discovers a new lease of life in the project.  Unfortunately, all have underestimated the administrative difficulties of creating an aircraft club.  Although they manage to get the aeroplane working it appears that they will not be legally allowed to fly it.  Their dreams appear to be dashed.

This is an enchanting – albeit somewhat romantic – film about how fulfilment and camaraderie may be found when labouring on a shared project.   The film was commissioned by the CGT, a confederation of trade unions in France.  Consequently, the film was intended for private screenings at CGT meetings and was never shown (at the time) in public cinemas.

The film illustrates what can be achieved through dedication and cooperation, a central message that is reinforced through a catchy camp-fire song which serves as the film’s motif.  "You can do anything with your ten fingers.  All you have to do is take them out of your pockets."  The trade union ethic of progress through conciliation is a strong theme of the film, although it does push the film into unnecessary sentimentality on a few occasions.

The direction, script and acting are generally good.  Together, these provide a very real sense of the frustration that was felt by young people of the 1950s who had to work long hours, six days a week.  The film’s characters convey a sense of release and satisfaction in their new-found Sunday diversion which is both convincing and moving.  There is also some impressive photography, particularly the scenes of the aeroplanes in flight.

The film is of particular interest because it is the first commercial film for the legendary French actor (and former boxer), Jean-Paul Belmondo, and his first in a leading role.   He plays an 18-year old youth who, frustrated by his work as a factory machine worker, discovers a sudden shot of happiness when a friend allows him to fly with him in an aeroplane.  Belmondo is perfectly cast as the moody but amiable young man who is obviously smitten by the flying bug.  Looking at the young Jean-Paul Belmondo in this film, it is not difficult to imagine that he would soon become a great luminary of French cinema.

© James Travers 2000

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