''La folle histoire de Max et Léon'' is a 2016

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

directed by Jonathan Barré, written by Barré, and the two stars of the film, the

comedy team A double act (also known as a comedy duo) is a form of comedy originating in the British music hall tradition, and American vaudeville, in which two comedians perform together as a single act. Pairings are typically long-term, in some cases fo ...

of Grégoire Ludig, and David Marsais. The film was produced by

Alain Goldman Alain Goldman, also known as Ilan Goldman (born 12 January 1961) is a French film producer. Early life Goldman was born in Montmartre, Paris, the son of Ashkenazi Jews, Jewish parents. His grandfather was the first representative for Universal Pi ...

and

Christopher Lambert Christophe Guy Denis "Christopher" Lambert (; ; born March 29, 1957) is a French-American actor, producer, and novelist. He started his career playing supporting parts in several French films, and became internationally famous for portraying Ta ...

who has a cameo as a French Army Captain.

Plot

The war has broken out and Max and Leo have to commit themselves, like thousands of young people in 1939. And if at first they do not realize the consequences of such a mission, they will soon discover that war Is not a matter to be taken lightly. And when defeat strikes, it's even less pleasing. Max and Leon have only one idea in mind: to go home as soon as possible and at all costs. But it is not counting the forces and the men who are in command and who do not intend to let them go like that. During the

Battle of France The Battle of France (french: bataille de France) (10 May – 25 June 1940), also known as the Western Campaign ('), the French Campaign (german: Frankreichfeldzug, ) and the Fall of France, was the Nazi Germany, German invasion of French Third Rep ...

the pair impersonate Germans and later two French Captains that lead them to England where they join the

Free French Free France (french: France Libre) was a political entity that claimed to be the legitimate government of France following the dissolution of the Third Republic. Led by French general , Free France was established as a government-in-exile ...

Forces. The pair are sent as

secret agent Espionage, spying, or intelligence gathering is the act of obtaining secret or confidential information (intelligence) from non-disclosed sources or divulging of the same without the permission of the holder of the information for a tangib ...

s to the

French Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon The Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon (french: Mandat pour la Syrie et le Liban; ar, الانتداب الفرنسي على سوريا ولبنان, al-intidāb al-fransi 'ala suriya wa-lubnān) (1923−1946) was a League of Nations mandate fou ...

that leads them to be captured and returned to

Occupied France The Military Administration in France (german: Militärverwaltung in Frankreich; french: Occupation de la France par l'Allemagne) was an interim occupation authority established by Nazi Germany during World War II to administer the occupied zo ...

. After meeting several of their old comrades in arms including their sergeant who has turned traitor they escape to

Vichy France Vichy France (french: Régime de Vichy; 10 July 1940 – 9 August 1944), officially the French State ('), was the fascist French state headed by Marshal Philippe Pétain during World War II. Officially independent, but with half of its ter ...

working for simultaneously for the

French Forces of the Interior The French Forces of the Interior (french: Forces françaises de l'Intérieur) were French resistance fighters in the later stages of World War II. Charles de Gaulle used it as a formal name for the resistance fighters. The change in designation ...

and the Vichy Ministry of Propaganda after the German Occupation of Vichy.

Reception

Les Inrockuptibles ''Les Inrockuptibles'' () is a French cultural magazine. Started as a monthly magazine in 1986, it became weekly in 1995. Now it is a monthly again, since 2021. In the beginning, rock music was the magazine's primary focus, though every issue in ...

'' reviewed the film, the first feature film from comedy duo Palmashow, as an "ambitious but alas weak transfer to the big screen."

Cast

* David Marsais as Max * Grégoire Ludig as Léon * Alice Vial as Alice Marchal * Saskia de Melo Dillais as Sarah *

Dominique Pinon Dominique Pinon (born 4 March 1955) is a French actor. He is known for appearing in films directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, often playing eccentric or grotesque characters. Early life and education Dominique Pinon was born in Saumur, Maine-et-Loi ...

as Michel *

Bernard Farcy Bernard Farcy (born 17 March 1949) is a French actor who has starred in over 70 plays, television series and films. He is best known for his role as Gérard Gibert in Luc Besson's action-comedy franchise ''Taxi'', as well as his appearances in nat ...

as Célestin *

Catherine Hosmalin Catherine Hosmalin is a French actress. Personal life While promoting the movie "Mince Alors", Hosmalin told to Laurent Ruquier Laurent Hugues Emmanuel Ruquier (; born 24 February 1963) is a French television presenter, radio host and com ...

as Madame Dormeuil * Julien Pestel as Pichon *

Nicolas Maury Nicolas Maury (born 14 October 1980 in Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche, Haute-Vienne) is a French actor and filmmaker. He is most noted for his regular role as Hervé in the television series ''Call My Agent! (Dix pour cent)'', and his directorial debut fi ...

as Eugène *

Nicolas Marié Nicolas Marié is a French actor and writer. Theater Filmography Dubbing References External links * {{DEFAULTSORT:Marie, Nicolas French male film actors Living people 20th-century French male actors 21st-century Frenc ...

as Colonel Marchal *

as Captain Lassard *

Kyan Khojandi Kyan Khojandi (born 29 August 1982) is a French comedian, actor and screenwriter born to a French mother and an Iranian father. He is best known for playing the main character in the television series ''Bref'', which was broadcast on Canal+ fro ...

as Commandant Poulain * Jonathan Cohen as Commandant Beaulieu *

Baptiste Lecaplain Baptiste Lecaplain (born 23 May 1985 in Mortain) is a French comedian and actor. He does stand-up comedy and has appeared in some films. Early life In 2004, he got his baccalauréat. After that, he was a youth leader at Levallois-Perret but he qu ...

as A soldier *

Kad Merad Kad Merad (born Kaddour Merad, ar, قدور ميراد, link=no; 27 March 1964) is a French-Algerian filmmaker and actor who has acted both on stage and on screen. Life and career Kad Merad was born in Sidi Bel Abbès, Algeria, on 27 March 1 ...

as The actor *

Pascale Arbillot Pascale Arbillot (born 17 April 1970) is a French actress. She is a graduate of the Paris Institute of Political Sciences; however, soon after, she decided to become an actress. She has appeared in films, on television and in the theatre. Fil ...

as The actress *

Florence Foresti Florence Foresti (; born 8 November 1973 in Vénissieux) is a French comedian and actress. Life and career Following her high school studies in literature, theatre and dramatic expression at Saint-Just de Lyon, Florence Foresti entered a scho ...

as A resistant *

Alban Lenoir Alban Lenoir (born 16 December 1980) is a French actor, screenwriter and stuntman. He was nominated for a Lumières Award for his leading role in the film '' French Blood'' (2015). Career As a stuntman, he has worked on ''Les Brigades du Tigre ...

as A resistant * Simon Astier as A resistant *

Dominique Besnehard Dominique Besnehard (; born 5 February 1954) is a French actor, film producer, casting director, writer and talent manager. He has appeared in more than 80 films and television shows since 1975. He starred in the 1983 film '' À nos amours'', wh ...

as The medecin *

Philippe Duquesne Philippe Duquesne (born 30 June 1965) is a French actor. He is best known for playing in the cult TV series '' Les Deschiens'' (1993–2002), in which he plays alongside Yolande Moreau Yolande Moreau (born 27 February 1953) is a Belgian come ...

as The railroader * Fatsah Bouyahmed as Billal *

Bruno Wolkowitch Bruno Wolkowitch is a French actor born on 10 May 1961 in Paris, in the 11th arrondissement. Biography Bruno Wolkowitch (orig. Wołkowicz) is of Polish descent. His father was a tailor turned bookkeeper and his mother a beautician who became a d ...

as The fatalist

References

External links

* * 2016 films 2010s war comedy films French war comedy films 2010s French-language films World War II prisoner of war films Military humor in film Films about the French Resistance Films set in Syria 2016 comedy films 2010s French films {{2010s-France-film-stub