''Caméra Café'' is a French-born format of comedy television series exported around the world. Two movie spin-offs have been made in France under the titles of ''Espace détente'' and ''Le Séminaire''. It was originally a French television show created by Bruno Solo,

Yvan Le Bolloc'h Yvan Le Bolloc'h (; born 20 December 1961) is a French television and radio host and actor. Biography Yvan Le Bolloc'h began as a teacher for four years in Brittany. He worked regularly with Bruno Solo and presented with him several music progra ...

, and Alain Kappauf and it was broadcast from September 2001 to December 2004 on the M6 channel. 700 episodes of 3 minutes each have been produced and were broadcast again on M6 in 2004. The show revolves around a dysfunctional office. Its originality stems from the fact that, within the fiction, the camera is fixed into the automated

coffee machine A coffeemaker, coffee maker or coffee machine is a cooking appliance used to brew coffee. While there are many different types of coffeemakers, the two most common brewing principles use gravity or pressure to move hot water through coffee ...

of the office space. The title is a French pun on "Caméra Cachée", (literally "hidden camera", or ''

Candid Camera ''Candid Camera'' is an American hidden camera and practical joke reality television series. The show was created, developed, and presented by Allen Funt. Various versions of the show have appeared on television from 1948 to 2014. The program ...

'' for the related TV show).

Plot

The main originality of the series is the coffee machine, located in the relaxation area of the company, which becomes the point of view of the viewer during each episode. In front of it, parade the employees of the company "Geugène Electro Stim" (G.E.S.) all are caricatured to the grotesque humor, even cynical at times. This place of choice allows the viewer to live from within the everyday atmosphere of the head office of a large company in the French (such as the presence of a driver for the president, a director of human resources and 'a full-time psychologist), with professional or private discussions that often turn into caricatures. Some extras pass from time to time down the hall and sometimes serve as spectators in some skits at strategic moments.

Cast

Main

* Bruno Solo as Hervé Dumont, Purchasing director and Union representative *

as Jean-Claude , Commercial

Secondary

Armelle Armelle (born 23 July 1969 as Armelle Leśniak) is a French actress, comedian and screenwriter. Life and career After studies in Khâgne, she works as a costume-aid. Trained by Jean Périmony, her atypical physique and her personality do not ...

as Maéva Capucin, Head of archives and inventory and Carole's assistant * Alexandre Pesle as Sylvain Müller, Accountant * Jeanne Savary as Jeanne Bignon, Secretary and Jean-Guy's assistant * Gérard Chaillou as Jean-Guy Lecointre, Chief human resources officer * Valérie Decobert as Frédérique Castelli, Nancy's secretary * Alain Bouzigues as Philippe Gatin, Network administrator * Shirley Bousquet as Nancy Langeais, Chief financial officer * Sylvie Loeillet as Carole Dussier-Belmont, Chief commercial officer * Philippe Cura as André Markowicz, Chauffeur * Noémie Elbaz as Julie Hassan, Switchboard operator * Karim Adda as Vincent Schneider, Postal service employee * Marc Andréoni as Serge Touati, Company psychologist *

Chantal Neuwirth Chantal Neuwirth (born 1948) is a French actress, who also played on theatre. She's been nominated three times to the Molière Awards : in 1999 for ''Rêver peut-être'', in 2000 for ''Les Nouvelles Brèves de comptoir'' and in 2004 for ''Portr ...

as Annie Lepoutre, Trainee *

Tom Novembre Tom Novembre (born ''Jean Thomas Couture''; 8 November 1959) is a French actor and singer. He appeared in more than seventy films since 1985. Selected filmography References External links * 1959 births Living people French male f ...

as Stanislas Priziwielsky, Digix's accountant *

Sophie Renoir Sophie Renoir (born 1964) is a French actress. She is the great-granddaughter of the French Impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841–1919), and daughter of the cinematographer Claude Renoir (1913–1993), granddaughter of actors Pierr ...

as Eva Kovalsky, Carole 's substitute during her illness *

Lucien Jean-Baptiste Lucien Jean-Baptiste (born 6 May 1964) is a French actor, writer and director.Aïssa Maïga Aïssa Maïga (born 5 May 1975) is a Senegal-born French actress, director, writer, producer, and activist. Maïga has worked with major auteurs like Michael Haneke, Abderrahmane Sissako and Michel Gondry, and recently starred in Chiwetel Ejio ...

as Violette, Jean-Claude's ex *

Bruno Lochet Bruno Lochet (born 18 October 1959) is a French actor. He is best known for playing in the cult TV series '' Les Deschiens'' (1993–2002), in which he played alongside Yolande Moreau. Theater Filmography Cinema Television Refe ...

as Didier Farjex, The chef of the canteen *

Bruno Salomone Bruno Salomone (born 13 July 1970) is a French actor and comedian. He is also active in dubbing Dubbing (also known as re-recording and mixing) is a post-production process used in filmmaking and the video production process where suppleme ...

as Thierry * Catherine Benguigui as Mireille * Catherine Jacob as The interior designer *

Chantal Lauby Chantal Lauby (born 23 March 1948) is a French actress, film director, screenwriter, humorist, comedian and television host. She is a member and founder of the group of comedians '' Les Nuls'' alongside Bruno Carette, Alain Chabat and Dominiqu ...

as Emma *

Christelle Cornil Christelle Cornil (born 28 August 1977) is a Belgian actress. Her acting credits include '' Le Vélo de Ghislain Lambert'', '' Soeur Sourire'', '' Illegal'', '' Mr. Average'', '' Beauties at War'', ''Julie & Julia'', '' OSS 117: Lost in Rio'', ''M ...

as Yvonne, The maintenance employee *

Édith Scob Édith Scob (21 October 1937 – 26 June 2019) was a French film and theatre actress, best known for her role as the daughter with a disfigured face in '' Eyes Without a Face'' (1960). Early life and family Scob was born Édith Helena Vladimir ...

as Madame Bouvard *

Élie Semoun Élie Semoun (born Élie Semhoun on 16 October 1963) is a French comedian, actor, director, writer and singer. Life and career Élie Semoun was born in France, to a Sephardic Jewish family of Moroccan-Jewish and Algerian-Jewish descent. In 19 ...

as The Security guard *

Fred Testot Frédéric Giacomo Testo (, ; born 20 February 1977), known as Fred Testot (), is a French actor, comedian and filmmaker. Since rising to prominence in the 2000s as he collaborated extensively with Omar Sy on the '' Service après-vente des émi ...

as The window cleaner *

Guillaume Depardieu Guillaume Jean Maxime Antoine Depardieu (7 April 1971 – 13 October 2008) was a French actor, winner of a César Award, and the second oldest child of Gérard Depardieu. Early life Depardieu was the son of actor Gérard Depardieu and his first ...

as Simon, a former prisoner in reintegration *

Gustave Kervern Gustave Kervern (born 27 August 1962), also known as Gustave de Kervern and Gustave K/Vern, is a French actor, director and screenwriter. He is best known for his collaboration with Benoît Delépine. Life and career In 1999, he joined his frie ...

as The plumber *

Mathilda May Mathilda May (born Karin Haïm; 8 February 1965) is a French film actress and director. Her most well-known roles include portraying Space Girl in '' Lifeforce'' (1985) and Jeanne Gardella in '' Toutes peines confondues'' (1992). Her father is ...

as The Boss's wife *

Pascal Obispo Pascal Michel Obispo (; born 8 January 1965) is a French pop and rock singer, music producer and songwriter. Early life Pascal Obispo, son of Max Obispo (a former Bordeaux Girondins football player of Basque origin) and Nicole Guérin (origin ...

as himself *

Raphaël Lenglet Raphaël Lenglet (born 21 October 1976) is a French actor. He is best known for his starring roles in French police television series. On '' Les Bleus'' he plays small-time hood turned rookie policeman, Alex Moreno and on '' Candice Renoir'' he ...

as Dimitri, Eva's son *

Riton Liebman Henri Liebman (born 29 January 1964), known as Riton Liebman, is a Belgian comedian, actor, and director. Career Liebman made his first impression with audiences at age 13, when French director Bertrand Blier discovered him and cast him as Chris ...

as The director *

Valérie Mairesse Valérie Mairesse (born 8 June 1954) is a French stage and film actress. She was nominated for the César Awards 1978 for Best Supporting Actress for her role in '' Repérages''. Theater Filmography External links * 1954 births Fr ...

as Anabelle, depressed cleaning lady

Adaptations

''Caméra Café'' has seen great export success, having been adapted in: *

United States of America The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 contiguo ...

(failed pilot) *

Republic of Ireland Ireland ( ), also known as the Republic of Ireland (), is a country in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe consisting of 26 of the 32 Counties of Ireland, counties of the island of Ireland, with a population of about 5.4 million. ...

(2002–2003) *

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

Quebec Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...

(2002–2012, 2021–) *

Greece Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. Located on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula, it shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to th ...

(2002) *

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

(2003–2008; 2011–2012; 2017) *

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south, bordered by Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, Belarus and Ukrai ...

(2004) *

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

(2005–2009) *

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. Featuring Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe, Portugal borders Spain to its north and east, with which it share ...

(2006) *

Philippines The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...

(2007–2009) *

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific oceans. Comprising over List of islands of Indonesia, 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, ...

(2008-) *

Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in western South America. It is the southernmost country in the world and the closest to Antarctica, stretching along a narrow strip of land between the Andes, Andes Mountains and the Paci ...

(2008) *

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...

(2008-2010) *

Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...

Flanders Flanders ( or ; ) is the Dutch language, Dutch-speaking northern portion of Belgium and one of the communities, regions and language areas of Belgium. However, there are several overlapping definitions, including ones related to culture, la ...

Luxembourg Luxembourg, officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, is a landlocked country in Western Europe. It is bordered by Belgium to the west and north, Germany to the east, and France on the south. Its capital and most populous city, Luxembour ...

Switzerland Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...

(2008-) *

Macedonia Macedonia (, , , ), most commonly refers to: * North Macedonia, a country in southeastern Europe, known until 2019 as the Republic of Macedonia * Macedonia (ancient kingdom), a kingdom in Greek antiquity * Macedonia (Greece), a former administr ...

"Movie links for Caméra café (2001)"
on the Internet Movie Database, retrieved on September 10, 2006 *

Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...

La Réunion LA most frequently refers to Los Angeles, the second most populous city in the United States of America. La, LA, or L.A. may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * La (musical note), or A, the sixth note *"L.A.", a song by Elliott Smi ...

, the show is both in

Créole Creole may refer to: Anthropology * Alaskan Creole people, people descended from the inhabitants of colonial Alaska before it became a part of the United States during the period of Russian rule * Creole peoples, ethnic groups which originate ...

and French, depending on the origins of the characters. *

Colombia Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country primarily located in South America with Insular region of Colombia, insular regions in North America. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, Venezuel ...

(2008-)''

Caracol TV Caracol is a large ancient Maya archaeological site, located in what is now the Cayo District of Belize. It is situated approximately south of Xunantunich, and the town of San Ignacio, and from the Macal River. It rests on the Vaca Platea ...

''
''Cámara Café llega para alegrar nuestras noches''
, 13 November 2008, retrieved 15 November 2008 *

Vietnam Vietnam, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV), is a country at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of about and a population of over 100 million, making it the world's List of countries and depende ...

(2010-2011) *

Tunisia Tunisia, officially the Republic of Tunisia, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It is bordered by Algeria to the west and southwest, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Tunisia also shares m ...

(2013)
Camera Cafe Tunisie Officiel
*

Turkey Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...

(2009-2010) *

Morocco Morocco, officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It has coastlines on the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria to Algeria–Morocc ...

(2010-) the show is both in

Darija Maghrebi Arabic, often known as ''ad-Dārija'' to differentiate it from Literary Arabic, is a vernacular Arabic dialect continuum spoken in the Maghreb. It includes the Moroccan, Algerian, Tunisian, Libyan, Hassaniya and Saharan Arabic di ...

and French, depending on the characters. *

Algeria Algeria, officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It is bordered to Algeria–Tunisia border, the northeast by Tunisia; to Algeria–Libya border, the east by Libya; to Alger ...

(2012-) *

Cambodia Cambodia, officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. It is bordered by Thailand to the northwest, Laos to the north, and Vietnam to the east, and has a coastline ...

(2012) *

Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to ...

(2015-) *

Jordan Jordan, officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is a country in the Southern Levant region of West Asia. Jordan is bordered by Syria to the north, Iraq to the east, Saudi Arabia to the south, and Israel and the occupied Palestinian ter ...

(2019) The length of an episode varies on the locale. In Quebec, where the shorter format is less prevalent than in France, episodes are 30 minutes long, commercials included (inversely, the Quebec show ''

Un gars, une fille ''Un gars, une fille'' (, ''A Guy, A Girl'') is a Canadian comedy television series created by and starring Guy A. Lepage and broadcast on Radio-Canada, as well as the title of its French adaptation on France 2. It was one of the most successfu ...

'', originally half an hour long, was reduced to 9 minutes in its French version). Italy kept the 7 minute format and Spain chose a four - to six-minute format.

Episodes

References

External links

* *
Official website of the French versionOfficial website of the Italian versionOfficial website of the Philippine versionOfficial website of the Spanish versionList of all episodes - official streaming
{{DEFAULTSORT:Camera Cafe Television shows filmed in Quebec 2000s Canadian sitcoms 2002 Canadian television series debuts 2003 Canadian television series endings TVA (Canadian TV network) original programming M6 (TV channel) original programming