Promotion canapé (1990)
Directed by Didier Kaminka

Film Review

Although he is better known as a screenwriter (mostly on several of Claude Zidi's films including Banzaï (1983) and Les Ripoux (1984)) Didier Kaminka also directed a handful of films, of which Promotion canapé was one of his most successful at the box office. The film attracted an audience of just over one million in France, and its prestigious cast may have had something to do with this. One-time comedy superstar Pierre Richard, pop star Eddy Mitchell and news anchorman Patrick Poivre d'Arvor make gratuitous cameo appearances, a worrying sign perhaps of the director's lack of confidence in his lead performers Margot Abascal and Grace de Capitani. The film starts out from the premise of a tatty old cliché, namely that the quickest way to success is to sleep with the boss, but fails to make much of it, the result being something of a tedious farce that struggles to keep going. The plethora of acting talent (the female leads are soon out-shone by more seasoned performers Thierry Lhermitte, Patrick Chesnais and Claude Rich) helps to disguise the vacuity of the plot but Kaminka's bland direction and a paucity of original gags ultimately take their toll. Any film that tries to make light of sexual harassment in the work place to grab a few cheap laughs has its work cut out - and this one just shows what a dubious activity this is.

Film Synopsis

Catherine and Françoise, two young women from the provinces, can hardly wait to begin their exciting new life in the big city.  They have both found jobs with the Paris Postal Service and are eager to make a good impression.  But no sooner have they started work than they realise they are fated to be the victims of male chauvinism.  All of their male-workers obviously consider themselves superior to them and regard all women as inadequate, mere sex objects for their amusement.  Realising there is not much she can do about this, Catherine decides to turn it to her advantage, allowing her superiors to sleep with her so that she can gain a swift and easy promotion.

Françoise is at first unwilling to resort to the same underhand tactics to get on, especially since she has met someone who is exactly the kind of man she would like to spend the rest of her life with.  But when her new beau proves to be unfaithful to her, Françoise has a sudden change of heart and decides to follow her friend's scurrilous example.  It's amazing how far and how fast your career can progress, if you're prepared to sleep around a little.  Before she knows it, Françoise has left Catherine trailing way behind her...