Every week, Virgil makes his father Ernest dream by telling him about his boxing exploits during a visit. Every week, Virgil comes to dream by meeting the eyes of Margot, a young woman who is also visiting. This week, Ernest tells her that he is going to get out and that he will finally be able to see Virgil in the ring. There's just one problem: Virgil hasn't boxed in three years.
Acting
Jalil Lespert's escalating panic is physically painful to watch.
Writing
The spiral of lies builds with cruel, hilarious inevitability.
Director
Mabrouk El Mechri
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was Mabrouk El Mechri's feature debut before he directed JCVD, the meta-action film that revived Jean-Claude Van Damme's career.
The film belongs to a wave of early-2000s French comedies about working-class masculinity in crisis—think Mensonges et trahisons with less glamour and more sweat.
FR
