La soupe aux choux
Encyclopedia
La Soupe aux Choux is a 1981 French
film directed by Jean Girault
, based on a novel by René Fallet. It was the second to last movie made by French comedian Louis de Funès
.
), known as Le Bombé. The two are described as the last surviving members of their breed, still living in a rural fashion while the rest of the world has modernized. They spend their days getting drunk and eating cabbage soup, while they spend their nights getting drunk and farting.
One night, their farting summons an alien (Jacques Villeret
) from the planet Oxo while Le Bombé is asleep. Glaude is awake to welcome the alien (who can only communicate in a squealing-siren sound). He learns that the people of Oxo live to be 200 years old and lead perfect lives. Glaude sends the alien off with a canister full of cabbage soup. The next day, we find out that Bombé had seen the flying saucer, but he is dismissed by the townsfolk as a drunk.
Over the course of several meetings with the alien (during which the alien learns French), many things transpire. The alien arranges to have Glaude's late wife resurrected at the age of 20. She runs away to Paris with a young man within a day of her revival. He also duplicates Glaude's entire fortune of a single gold coin hundreds of times, making Glaude rich. Finally (because of the effect of the delicious cabbage soup on Oxo), the alien offers Glaude, Bombé, and their cat residence on the utopian Oxo so that they could grow their cabbage and make cabbage soup. This would allow them all to live to the age of 200. Glaude initially rejects the proposition outright.
Meanwhile, the mayor of the rural town decides to modernize. He plans a new housing project directly on the old men's land. Although he threatens to put them in a cage like monkeys, he cannot convince them to give up their land. He decides to simply build around their houses and fence them off from the rest of the neighborhood, effectively caging them in. They become a roadside attraction, with people jeering at them and throwing popcorn at them whenever they step outside of their doors. This greatly reduced quality of life convinces Glaude to accept the alien's offer.
He tells Bombé about their option, who is admittedly skeptical at first, but opens up to the idea when he sees the communicator left by the alien. Before leaving, Glaude makes a last stop at the post office to send his runaway wife a package containing the gold they were given by the alien. The film ends with Glaude, Bombé, and the alien flying off into space inside the flying saucer, joyous and drinking.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
film directed by Jean Girault
Jean Girault
Jean Girault was a French film director and screenwriter. He directed more than thirty films between 1960 and 1982.-Filmography:Director* Les pique-assiette * Les Moutons de Panurge...
, based on a novel by René Fallet. It was the second to last movie made by French comedian Louis de Funès
Louis de Funès
Louis Germain David de Funès de Galarza was a very popular French actor who is one of the giants of French comedy alongside André Bourvil and Fernandel...
.
Plot
Claude Ratinier (de Funès), known as Le Glaude, is an old farmer who lives across the road from his long-time friend Francis Chérasse (Jean CarmetJean Carmet
Jean Carmet, born July 25, 1920 in Bourgueil, Indre-et-Loire, France; died April 20, 1994 in Sèvres, Hauts-de-Seine, was a French actor.-Biography:...
), known as Le Bombé. The two are described as the last surviving members of their breed, still living in a rural fashion while the rest of the world has modernized. They spend their days getting drunk and eating cabbage soup, while they spend their nights getting drunk and farting.
One night, their farting summons an alien (Jacques Villeret
Jacques Villeret
Jacques Villeret was a French actor.-Early life and Family:Born Jacky Boufroura in Loches, Indre-et-Loire, France, to an Algerian father and a French mother, he is most famous internationally for his role as François Pignon in Le Dîner de Cons, both on the stage and in the later film...
) from the planet Oxo while Le Bombé is asleep. Glaude is awake to welcome the alien (who can only communicate in a squealing-siren sound). He learns that the people of Oxo live to be 200 years old and lead perfect lives. Glaude sends the alien off with a canister full of cabbage soup. The next day, we find out that Bombé had seen the flying saucer, but he is dismissed by the townsfolk as a drunk.
Over the course of several meetings with the alien (during which the alien learns French), many things transpire. The alien arranges to have Glaude's late wife resurrected at the age of 20. She runs away to Paris with a young man within a day of her revival. He also duplicates Glaude's entire fortune of a single gold coin hundreds of times, making Glaude rich. Finally (because of the effect of the delicious cabbage soup on Oxo), the alien offers Glaude, Bombé, and their cat residence on the utopian Oxo so that they could grow their cabbage and make cabbage soup. This would allow them all to live to the age of 200. Glaude initially rejects the proposition outright.
Meanwhile, the mayor of the rural town decides to modernize. He plans a new housing project directly on the old men's land. Although he threatens to put them in a cage like monkeys, he cannot convince them to give up their land. He decides to simply build around their houses and fence them off from the rest of the neighborhood, effectively caging them in. They become a roadside attraction, with people jeering at them and throwing popcorn at them whenever they step outside of their doors. This greatly reduced quality of life convinces Glaude to accept the alien's offer.
He tells Bombé about their option, who is admittedly skeptical at first, but opens up to the idea when he sees the communicator left by the alien. Before leaving, Glaude makes a last stop at the post office to send his runaway wife a package containing the gold they were given by the alien. The film ends with Glaude, Bombé, and the alien flying off into space inside the flying saucer, joyous and drinking.
Theme Song
The theme song became popular in France, and has been remixed many times. Artist Fat Dog created a mix with Mr. Cosmic dubbed "I'm not scoobidoobidoo".Credits
- DirectorFilm directorA film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
: Jean GiraultJean GiraultJean Girault was a French film director and screenwriter. He directed more than thirty films between 1960 and 1982.-Filmography:Director* Les pique-assiette * Les Moutons de Panurge... - WriterWriterA writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
: Jean HalainJean HalainJean Halain , born 14 January 1920 in Paris, died 14 September 2000 in Juvisy-sur-Orge, was a film screenwriter.He was a scriptwriter and screenwriter of numerous films of Louis de Funès.- Screenwriter :...
, based on the book by René Fallet - Starring: Louis de FunèsLouis de FunèsLouis Germain David de Funès de Galarza was a very popular French actor who is one of the giants of French comedy alongside André Bourvil and Fernandel...
(Claude Ratinier), Jean CarmetJean CarmetJean Carmet, born July 25, 1920 in Bourgueil, Indre-et-Loire, France; died April 20, 1994 in Sèvres, Hauts-de-Seine, was a French actor.-Biography:...
(Francis Chérasse), Jacques VilleretJacques VilleretJacques Villeret was a French actor.-Early life and Family:Born Jacky Boufroura in Loches, Indre-et-Loire, France, to an Algerian father and a French mother, he is most famous internationally for his role as François Pignon in Le Dîner de Cons, both on the stage and in the later film...
(La Denrée), Claude GensacClaude GensacClaude Gensac is a French actress in Acy-en-Multien, region of Picardy.Between 1952 and 2003 she played in 42 films.- Filmography :* La Vie d'un honnête homme * Le Journal d'une femme en blanc * Les grandes vacances... - MusicMusicMusic is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
: Raymond LefèvreRaymond LefèvreRaymond Lefèvre was a French easy listening orchestra leader, arranger and composer.Born in Calais, France, Lefèvre is best known for his 1968 theme "Soul Coaxing ", which became an international hit... - Rated G (general audience) in FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
- Year of the Making: 1981
External links
- IMDB listing
- Bande-Annonce : La Soupe aux choux Cinema.com