François, a miserable football player, becomes a town hero after bringing victory in an extremely important game. He uses his fame for revenge on the team star for the previous mockeries.
Acting
Patrick Dewaere's volcanic, wounded pettiness — impossible to look away.
Direction
Annaud's debut already shows his gift for obsessive male protagonists.
Writing
Revenge so specific and small-scale it becomes hilarious and tragic.
Director
Jean-Jacques Annaud
Patrick Dewaere
François Perrin
France Dougnac
Stéphanie Lefèvre
Dorothée Jemma
Marie
Maurice Barrier
Berri, boss of the 'Penalty'
Robert Dalban
Jeanjean
Mario David
Rumin, healer
Hubert Deschamps
Prison director
Dora Doll
Head nun
François Dyrek
Driver of the first truck
Patrick Floersheim
Berthier
Michel Fortin
Langlumey, coach
Jacques Frantz
Driver of the second truck
Gérard Hernandez
Bercot, police inspector
Claude Legros
Poilane, waiter
Corinne Marchand
Mrs. Sivardière
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Patrick Dewaere was a massive star in France but struggled with depression; his intense performance here now reads eerily autobiographical.
The film captures a specific post-68 French moment: working-class sports as the only escape, and the cruelty of realizing your moment in the sun is already ending.
FR
