L'Année sainte (1976)
Directed by Jean Girault

Film Review

On the 23 April 1976, king of comedy Jean Girault presented his latest film L'Année sainte.  The title of this Franco-Italian production was borrowed from the 1975 jubilee celebrated by Pope Paul VI in Rome.  The film is the only collaboration between Girault (better known for his work with Louis de Funès) and Jean Gabin (who co-starred with De Funès in films such as La Traversée de Paris, Le Gentleman d'Epsom and Le Tatoué).

L'Année sainte was to be Gabin's last film; the actor died seven months after the film's première.  At the end of an incredible career, a tired Jean Gabin seems able to amuse himself for the last time in a film which offers some clever humour, nonsensical scenes and a refreshing story with a few twists.  Jean-Claude Brialy (perfectly cast) teams up with Gabin in this religious farce about two thieves escaping from prison and trying to return a hidden treasure in Italy disguised in priests.

In a small part, French film legend Danielle Darriux (who had already worked with Girault in La Maison de campagne) gives the best of herself, happy to work once more alongside Gabin after films like La Vérité sur Bébé Donge, Le Plaisir and Le Desordre et la nuit.  As a publicity stunt, the Belgian poster carried the slogan 'This is not a very catholic story' but this barely known film is surely a little gem.  The film drew an audience of 1.25 million, who came to salute the exit of probably the most popular French actor of his generation.

Film Synopsis

Former gangster chief, Max Lambert, escapes from a Paris prison with his cell-mate, Pierre Bizet.  They travel to Rome and intend to profit from the mass pilgrimage of the Holy Year to recover Max's hidden stash of money.  The operation does not go quite as smoothly as they had hoped...