Nuit d’ivresse (1986)

Nuit d’ivresse is a French film comedy first released in 1986, directed by Bernard Nauer.  The film stars Josiane Balasko, Thierry Lhermitte, Gérard Martin, Jean-Claude Dauphin and Jean-Michel Dupuis.  It has also been released under the title: Drunken Night.  Our overall rating for this film is: mediocre.


The night after he has been awarded a trophy for being the best-dressed and most courteous television celebrity, Jacques Belin ends up getting blind drunk.  Along the way he becomes attached to a luckless, unattractive woman, Frède, whom he initially abuses until drink gets the better of him.  The next morning, Jacques wakes up and prepares himself for a TV interview in his apartment, having completely forgotten what happened the night before.  Unfortunately, Frède has a clear recollection of everything and she intends to teach Jacques a lesson he will not forget…

Comic performers Josiane Balasko and Thierry Lhermitte are on fine form in this boisterous film comedy, based on a stage play by Balasko (who has proven to be equally talented as both an actor and a writer).  The film does take a while to get going, but as soon as the main characters have established themselves the jokes get funnier and the enjoyment value grows.  The suave but superficial stage persona of Lhermitte perfectly contrasts the natural vulgarity and sincerity of Balasko, something which makes their absurd characters believable and strangely loveable.

© James Travers 2004

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