what are you talking about Two lifelong friends live on a small island in Brittany and discover that one of the residents has won the national lottery jackpot. The two old scoundrels then set out to find the mysterious winner in order to curry his favor before the news gets out.
But when they discover that the latter is dead, with the winning ticket in hand, they decide to stage a massive lottery scam involving the entire village in his place.
“Old Bastards” (1998)
A l’Ancien is a remake of an Irish film, Vieilles canailles, by Kirk Jones (II) (to whom we owe Nannie McPhee, A Greek Wedding 2, etc.), which was released in 1998 and went unnoticed in France. Didier Bourdon says: “We find this Anglo-Saxon humor that actually combines the genres: pure comedy, tenderness, sadness… All this also happens here in Brittany, a country where people have the sea and feel free. This is clearly felt. In the story of À l’Ancien, and I would say that the main character is undoubtedly Brittany!
When it was released, Vieilles Soundrels (“Waking Ned” in its original version) was a huge commercial success, as the comedy brought in at least $50 million worldwide, against an estimated budget of $3 million.
The birth of the project
A l’Ancien was launched by producers Hugo Gelin and Igor Gottesman, who had Hervé Mimran read the script for the project. The latter recalls: “The three of us have already worked together: Igor played Man in a Hurry in 2018, and I wrote Comme des Frères, Hugo’s first feature film… All this is the result of a kind of friendly and friendly relationship. Happy mating!”
As the author himself, Hervé Mimran brought his touch to the project: “I don’t really know how to get into the film as a single performer, and it was good, because Igor and Hugo asked to rewrite the script, as the need for new blood… There is always something to revise, to refine the story according to my vision.
Gerard Darmont and Didier Bourdon
Reunion and 1st time
If Chantal Laub has already appeared in two films with Didier Bourdon (Bancs publics (Right Bank of Versailles) and Antilles Sir Seine) and three feature films with Gérard Darmont (Les Clefs de carnole, Astérix et Obélix: Mission Cléopâtre and La Cité de la Fear). ), this is the first time that these two actors are facing each other in cinema.
A tale about the fate of poor people
At the time of writing, Hervé Mimran admitted that the film was a kind of fairy tale about the fate of people in need. He specifies: “This possible loot comes as a windfall. They are not of high standards. Their dreams are modest. And to return to morality, isn’t it most immoral to obtain such sums? After all, stealing from thieves is stealing. ?”
“We find this in some Italian and English comedies, where people in trouble try to get out of it, even if it turns into cute crooks!” Watch it. Ocean’s Eleven For example: Do you have any sympathy for these casino robbers? The answer is clearly yes…”
An obvious fact
Hervé Mimran thought of Gerard Darmont and Didier Bourdon from the beginning of the project, as he remembers: “I needed Auguste and the white clown… Depending on the role and the age group, Gerard immediately stood out. He is an actor who has the incredible range of acting that Jean-Pierre Bakry had. It’s a family. Actors I adored, Gerard Darmont came to mind. 37.2 in the morning Beinex: I was a young movie buff then, and he had a big influence on me…”
“Face to face with him, I immediately considered Didier Bourdon. For me, he is a very great actor, he went to the conservatory and can explore all the registers, of course, including comedy that explores slightly deeper themes … My luck is that this unprecedented duo immediately said yes !
filming locations
A l’Ancienne was filmed in Finistère: Cap-Sizun towards Pointe du Raz, Crozon peninsula in Landevenec and north of Brest. Hervé Mimran often: “In the beginning I really wanted to shoot on the island, but it was still too urbanized for my taste! I considered Ouesant, but in terms of the constraints, two hours by boat to bring the actors and the equipment, it was too heavy. .”
“And then we had to shoot in September-October, which is still a very touristy period, so logistically it was also very difficult.”
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
