Tonight on TV: One of the nastiest French movies ever made

After a career in advertising, Etienne Chatiles began writing his first feature film, Life is a Long Quiet River, alongside Florence Quentin. The story takes place in a small town in northern France. In a moment of confusion, the nurse switches between two newborns from families of very different social origins: the Le Quesnoys (the rich) and the Groseilles (the poor). One day, the nurse decides to reveal the potted roses to them…

Also off-camera, Étienne Chateles dynamits French comedy, then grunts a little. With this social and familial background, which plays without difficulty the confrontation between the stuck-up bourgeoisie and the working class, Life is a long calm river heralds the director’s deliciously biting style, which he proved with Tati Daniela in 1990, then Le Bonheur est dans le pré in 1995.

easily Life is a long calm river I was fascinated by his incredible sense of detail (which gave rise to the iconic lines: “Ravioli Monday!”or a song “Jesus, come back!”written especially for the film, voiced by Father Auberge), its irreverent humor and impeccable interpretation by a group of actors mainly from the theater.

When it was released in 1988, it was an unexpected triumph: 4 million viewers went to see it in cinemas – quite an exceptional figure for a first film. This success was later followed by four Césars in the categories of Best First Feature, Best Screenplay, Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Helen Vincent and Best Young Female Hope for Kathryn Jacobs.

Life is a long calm river By Etienne Chatilliers with Helen Vincent, Andre Wilms, Christine Pines…

Tonight on TMC at 8:50 PM.