PROFESSIONALS., a cult comedy
In 1985, director Patrick Schulmann was under pressure for his fifth film, PROFESSIONALS. In fact, after his first film And tenderness? Disorder !a hit comedy with 3.3 million viewers, his next three films were even considered failures Aldo and Junior, despite its 1.4 million ticket sales. So when it’s time to stage PROFESSIONALS with Patrick Bruel and Fabrice Luchini in particular, it’s about not missing anything.
PROFESSIONALS., as the title indicates, takes place in a school environment, and follows a team of four teachers who works to shake up traditions and change the life of their high school.
Back to school in a high school. The director introduces the new teachers. Among these, Frédéric (Patrick Bruel). He stands out for his lateness and his relaxation. Professor of rebellious literature, he teaches his students critical thinking. If he is adored by them, he also has a lot of influence on his colleagues: Michel (Fabrice Luchini), the drawing teacher, Gérard (Laurent Gamelon), the gym teacher, Francis (Christophe Bourseiller), the librarian. The four quickly clash with the rest of an “old guard” faculty, of which they try to neutralize the members who annoy them the most. At the same time, they become more and more independent and do the craziest things…
The film, which features a series of not exactly the best gags – that’s an understatement – despite the ostentatious “progressivism” of its young teachers, is a commercial success with 2.8 million viewers and is ranked a 9th place at the French box office in 1985. 30 years later, some of his actors have testified about a film that they personally did not appreciate much, but noted its success and resistance to time. Indeed, it consistently achieves impressive ratings during its television rebroadcasts.
“Not his camera”, but a “legendary” film for Fabrice Luchini
Interviewed by Allociné in 2015 at the Angoulême Film Festival, together with other members of the cast – in particular the director Anne Fontaine who played the role of Frédéric’s partner -, Fabrice Luchini expressed his opinion on the film, in his inimitable style.
PROFESSIONALS. It’s a legendary film. When it’s on TF1, it attracts 8 million viewers. It’s not my thing, but it’s okay and it’s my friend Patrick Schulmann who killed himself in the car. It’s nothing.
For her part, Anne Fontaine, then a young actress, witnessed an experience without losing her smile “horrible” of the filming of PROFESSIONALSbecause she had to play an erotic scene and she was very scared.
I had an erotic scene, where you had to assume all positions. It was horrible, I was scared. It’s not easy to get to the set and… The fact that I met Fabrice, who spoke to me straight away, helped me overcome my shyness.
Source: Cine Serie
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