the review of a film which smiles since it is serious

The synopsis

France 1940, Jean Chevalin and his family live in poverty after the latter saw fit to… desert! The situation is no longer tenable. Convinced that “some” are doing better, Chevalin has a brilliant idea: to pass as Jews in order to benefit from the help of smugglers to access the free zone. From misunderstandings to revelations, from collaboration to resistance, he will lead his family on this great journey which will deconstruct their prejudices.

Paris Match review (3/5)

This “Good Star” is a funny film, which constantly oscillates between comedy and drama, always on the verge of a highly flammable subject, to say the least cheeky in a popular French cinema which rarely dares to dare. For this, we can only congratulate the writing talent of Pascal Elbé who sketches good and evil, humor, horror or tenderness without ever falling into ease or pathos. We will forget some facilities (the Nazis and the collaborators are sometimes very binary in their monstrosity, a candid epilogue) to concentrate on the human, which interests Elbé to the greatest extent.

And where he knows how to take his film into nuance. From the main character, a coward in all his splendor, to a tasty resistant bourgeoisie, the director beautifully brings his characters to life, helped by a finely constructed cast with obvious personalities, from Benoit Poelvoorde to Zabou Breitman. Making horror laugh, refusing any moral lesson or blackmail of emotion, these are all rare qualities for a film which will surprise, disconcert but will speak to as many people as possible. Simply and intelligently.

By Pascal Elbé
With Benoît Poelvoorde, Pascal Elbé, Audrey Lamy