''Deux heures moins le quart avant Jésus-Christ (Quarter To Two B.C.)'' is a 1982 French comedy film directed by Jean Yanne. The film relates the story of the garage mechanic Ben-Hur Marcel, also known as Aminemephet ( Coluche), who gets wrapped up organizing a plot against Caesar ( Michel Serrault). The picture is an

anachronistic An anachronism (from the Greek , 'against' and , 'time') is a chronological inconsistency in some arrangement, especially a juxtaposition of people, events, objects, language terms and customs from different time periods. The most common type ...

parody of Bible films like '' Ben-Hur'', somewhat comparable to '' Monty Python's Life of Brian'' (1979). It has become a

cult film A cult film or cult movie, also commonly referred to as a cult classic, is a film that has acquired a cult following. Cult films are known for their dedicated, passionate fanbase which forms an elaborate subculture, members of which engage i ...

in France.

Plot

During the Roman Empire, a modest cart maker found himself the victim of a political plot targeting Julius Caesar. In this parody of peplum, peopled with anachronisms, a garage mechanic for carts, Ben-Hur Marcel finds himself unwillingly representative of the union against the Roman army. Caught up in a story of a plot against a homosexual Caesar and interested only in his hairstyle and the drape of his toga, Ben-Hur Marcel finds himself embroiled in a political embarrassment towards ancient Egypt and its queen, Cleopatra VII, decked out in an accent of the Parisian suburbs. He will get by thanks to the talent of his friend Paulus. At first glance, the satire is aimed first at state power which presents all the usual flaws: liar, cynical, manipulator, contemptuous, hateful, but also fearful: "Citizens, we can do nothing for the moment ... But as soon as possible as we can, we will do double! The people, cowardly and submissive (cf. the final speech of Ben-Hur Marcel to all the protagonists), and the operetta revolutionaries also take it for their rank: if things are going so badly, it is because , in the end, they let it go. And, in the end, everyone forgets while watching the silliness of the television news during which the birth of a child is announced in a stable in Bethlehem. The film ends with an ironic retort from Ben-Hur Marcel: “ The birth of a child in a stable won't change the face of the world!" At this moment we hear the first three fortissimo notes of the music written by Miklós Rósza for the film Ben Hur (1959) by William Wyler.

Cast

* Coluche as Ben-Hur Marcel / Aminemephet * Michel Serrault as César * Jean Yanne as Paulus * Françoise Fabian as Laetitia * Michel Auclair as Consul Demetrius * Mimi Coutelier as Cleopatra * Darry Cowl as Faucuius *

Paul Préboist Paul Préboist (21 February 1927 – 4 March 1997) was a French actor. He appeared in more than hundred films, mostly in supporting roles, and is best known as a comic actor. Filmography Theater References External links *Paul Préboista ...

as The Lion Keeper * Daniel Emilfork as Tatouius *

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 * 1955 births Fr ...

as A Prostitute *

André Pousse André Pousse (20 October 1919 – 9 September 2005) was a noted French actor and, in his youth, also a notable cyclist. Biography While primarily known as a leading French actor, André Pousse began his professional career as a cyclist (prima ...

as A centurion * Michel Constantin as Secutor *

José Artur José is a predominantly Spanish and Portuguese form of the given name Joseph. While spelled alike, this name is pronounced differently in each language: Spanish ; Portuguese (or ). In French, the name ''José'', pronounced , is an old vernacu ...

as Reginus

Discography

The CD soundtrack composed by Raymond Alessandrini and Jean Yanne was released on the Music Box Records label.

References

External links

* 1982 films 1980s parody films French parody films 1980s French-language films Films directed by Jean Yanne Films produced by Claude Berri French satirical films Films set in Palestine (region) Films set in the Roman Empire Films shot in Tunisia Films set in the 1st century BC Roman Empire in art and culture Depictions of Julius Caesar on film Depictions of Cleopatra on film 1982 comedy films 1980s French films {{1980s-France-film-stub