Tais-toi is another entertaining comedy from
Francis Veber, one which follows the tried and tested format of his earlier films - a
mad-cap thriller narrative involving the improbable pairing of a hard man and a clown.
Anyone who is familiar with Veber's work will get more than a sense of déjà-vu
in watching this film - it seems to be a potpourri of many of the previous films he either
scripted or directed, notably L'Emmerdeur
(1973), La
Chèvre (1981) and Les Fugitifs (1986). (If you can't
ruthlessly plunder your own work, whose work can you ruthlessly plunder?)
Jean Reno and Gérard Depardieu make a surprisingly effective double-act, both
actors having worked with Veber in earlier films. As in Le Jaguar (1996), Reno plays the likeable
hard man (the kind of role in which he excels), whilst Depardieu takes on the part of
the insufferable comic sidekick, the role which was previously played by Pierre Richard
in Veber's films. Although there's nothing new in this film, Veber's flair for comedy
- both in his writing and his direction - makes it an enjoyable romp, proving that his
inoffensive style of comedy will never go out of fashion.
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Next Francis Veber film: La Doublure (2006)
Film Synopsis
This is the story of Quentin, an empty headed buffoon whose ambition is to run a small
bistro, and Ruby, a ruthless crook who will stop at nothing to avenge the death of his
girlfriend. After attempting a hold-up Quentin is arrested and sent to jail,
where his talent for driving his fellow prisoners to distraction soon becomes apparent.
The prison governor places him in the same cell as Ruby, in the hope that this will force
the latter to reveal where he stashed the money he stole before his arrest. Quentin
immediately sees Ruby as his best friend and has no other thought than to stick to him.
Having effected a breakout, Quentin and Ruby go on the run, pursued not just by the police,
but also by Ruby's former gangster associates.
Cast:Gérard Depardieu (Quentin),
Jean Reno (Ruby),
Richard Berry (Commissaire Vernet),
André Dussollier (Le psychiatre),
Jean-Pierre Malo (Vogel),
Jean-Michel Noirey (Lambert),
Laurent Gamelon (Mauricet),
Aurélien Recoing (Rocco),
Vincent Moscato (Raffi),
Ticky Holgado (Martineau),
Michel Aumont (Nosberg),
Leonor Varela (Katia),
Loic Brabant (Jambier)
Country: France
Language: French
Support: Color
Runtime: 85 min
Aka:Ruby & Quentin
The history of French cinema
From its birth in 1895, cinema has been an essential part of French culture. Now it is one of the most dynamic, versatile and important of the arts in France.
In the 1920s French cinema was at its most varied and stylish - witness the achievements of Abel Gance, Marcel L'Herbier, Jean Epstein and Jacques Feyder.
A wave of fresh talent in the late 1950s, early 1960s brought about a dramatic renaissance in French cinema, placing the auteur at the core of France's 7th art.