Monsieur Papa is a moving portrait of a modern family, centering around 12 year-old Marius Vallois. Born in a wealthy family, Marius is the son of Marie Vallois, a successful CEO. Marie loves her son unconditionally, but Marius has never known his father and suffers greatly from it. When Marius starts shoplifting and doing badly at school, Marie decides to recruit a father figure for him. One day in her office building, she meets Robert Pique. Robert is a peculiar man who has a background in finance, but makes ends meet ironing clothes for his neighbors. Reluctant at first, Robert agrees to be paid to meet Marius and pretends to be his father. Marius immediately understands that Robert is not his dad, but very quickly, a deep bond develops between them.
Acting
Kad Merad directed himself with surprising restraint; the kid steals scenes.
Writing
The fake-dad premise stays just grounded enough to not collapse.
Director
Kad Merad
Kad Merad
Robert Pique
Michèle Laroque
Marie Vallois
Gaspard Meier-Chaurand
Marius Vallois
Vincent Perez
Jean-Laurent
Judith El Zein
Sonia
Florence Maury
Chloé
Emmanuel Patron
Kléber, l'amant de Marie
Patrick Bonnel
Patrick
Myriam Boyer
Suzy Benchetritt
Christophe Kourotchkine
Fred
Lucie Laurier
Corinne
Randiane Naly
Nadia
Arnaud Duléry
Le responsable de la sécurité
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Kad Merad is better known in France as a comedic actor; this was his directorial debut and he cast himself opposite his real-life friend Michèle Laroque.
The film quietly critiques France's paternal leave policies and the 'absent father' epidemic by making the solution literal and transactional.
FR
