Boudu (2005)
Directed by Gérard Jugnot

Film Review

One of Jean Renoir's most popular films is his 1932 classic Boudu sauvé des eaux, which starred Michel Simon in one of his most celebrated roles, the anarchic yet loveable tramp Boudu.  The film was an adaptation of a well-known stage play, written by René Fauchois, and, a scathing satire on middle class values, is still surprisingly relevant to contemporary society.  Gérard Jugnot's updated version of the story keeps most of the elements of the original play but tries explore in greater depth the relationship of the four principal players.

Whilst the film has its strengths (some great visual gags and a terrific performance from Catherine Frot), it is pretty lukewarm and insipid in comparison with some of Jugnot's earlier films.  The film fluctuates nervously between farce and serious emotional drama, without really deciding what kind of film it is, or even what its audience is.  Consequently, much of the comedy is inoffensively mild and pedestrian, whilst the drama feels shallow and just doesn't ring true.  Depardieu is an obvious choice for Boudu, but he just comes across as unsympathetic and rather stupid, with none of the danger or pathos that one feels in Michel Simon's portrayal in Renoir's film.  With its abundance of stock clichés, annoying soundtrack and horribly sentimental ending, this film doesn't show Gérard Jugnot at his best.

Film Synopsis

Christian Lespinglet is the owner of a struggling art gallery in Aix-en-Provence.  One evening starts by him trying to seduce his assistant Coralie and ends with him coming to the rescue of a drowning tramp named Boudu.  A good-natured man at heart, Christian offers Boudu a place to rest and recuperate in his gallery.  He expects to be rid of the filthy vagabond within a few hours, but his wife Yseult, a hypochondriac suffering from depression, insists that Boudu should stay a while longer.  This arrangement turns out to be to Christian's advantage, as it provides a distraction that allows him to continue his affair with Coralie.  What he doesn't yet know is that Boudu has amorous designs on both his wife and his mistress.  This is what happens when you save people from drowning...