Tchao Pantin : A clown finally taken seriously.
Known for his sketches without taboos who made France laugh, Coluche had already started the first chain and supporting the cinema since the early 70s. However, his performances were often used in the comic book register, as if in case Wing or thigh (1977) or Burn inspector (1980). In 1982, the humorist was however contacted by the director Claude Berri for a new project: the adaptation of the dark novel Tchao Pantinwhose hero is a former depressive policeman who has become a pompist.
Berri has already transformed Coluche into two of his films: The pistonnée AND The master of the school (In the latter, he also showed that his game could vary). So he has great self -confidence. Although initially reluctant, Coluche will eventually accept.
Tchao Pantin It tells the story of Lambert, a dark, alcoholic and lonely man, who works like a night pump at night in the 18thth District of Paris. One evening he met Yousef Bossoussan, a young trader who escapes the police and tries to find refuge in his service station. The current passes between the two men who will become friends over time. Unfortunately, A drama connected to Youssef He will force Lambert to return to his old police activities.
Coluche and its black period
Beyond the history and staging of Claude Berri (the film is essentially shot at night to accentuate his dark atmosphere), the film is known for which it is better known Contraction counter-assumption of Coluche. In fact, the actor, much better known for the clown on stage and in the cinema, plays an unexpected role of man at the drift here.
However, it should be noted that at the beginning, Michel Colucci (his name in real life) agreed to play Tchao Pantin… for financial reasons. The actor therefore owes a great sum of money to taxes, following his differences expenses. The heart is therefore not there, and is quickly verified on the set with a suffering coluche that goes Until you leave the jacket for the assistant of the pump from the shoot!
It must be said that at that time Coluche is going through difficult moments. In fact, the early 80s saw a chain of misfortunes that fell on the humorist. The first comes during the period in which the latter decided, with surprise of all, To come to the presidential elections. What was initially a joke started to become very serious when a survey attributes it to 16 % of the voting intentions! He will therefore have pressure from all the policies of the wide, including the future president François Mitterrand. Threats and intimidation will weigh him so hard that they force him to abandon his campaign.
The second misfortune arrived in December 1981, with the pronunciation of his divorce with Véronique Colucci who left him with his two children. The artist will therefore experience a wandering period in which he will live in particular in Guadeloupe. Only, in the same period, a relationship will begin with Elsa Dewaere, wife of the actor Patrick Dewaere … who is Coluche’s best friend! He will then leave her husband to settle in Guadeloupe, with his daughter Lola. Faced with the news, the actor (already fragile, psychologically) He will end his days on July 16, 1982 with the rifle offered by the humorist.
Reduced by remorse and pain, extracted from debts, Coluche will then immerse themselves in drugs. However, indirectly, this state will considerably strengthen the weight of its interpretation in Tchao Pantin which will be welcomed by criticism.
The effect Tchao Pantin
Involuntarily, through his performance following his setbacks in the private sector, Coluche has created a concept that has since been used regularly by the media: the “Tchao Pantin” effect. This is to see a French humorist who adopts a dramatic role and a total counter-assumption of his previous roles.
Source: Cine Serie
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