When Nénette discovers the identity of her father in a letter, she quickly goes off in search of him. But instead of finding her father, she is met by her half-brother, Paul. Paul, a bitter man who gave up his dream to take over his father’s pharmacy business, is less than thrilled at the arrival of his ‘embarrassing’ half-sister. After refusing to take her in, he soon gets a taste of his own medicine. Under the influence of a potent drug, for one day Paul is generous, happy and sensitive. The next morning, however, once the drug has worn off, his nasty side comes back...
Acting
Michel Blanc's two-mode performance: vicious then grotesquely pleasant.
Writing
Balasko's sharp script weaponizes politeness as revenge.
Direction
Balasko directs herself with zero vanity, all chaos.
Director
Josiane Balasko
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Balasko is a giant of French comedy; this was her sixth feature as director, proving women could helm biting domestic satire in a male-dominated industry.
The pharmacy setting isn't random—France's pharmacists are notoriously powerful small-town figures, making Paul's resentment of his 'inheritance' a subtle class critique.
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