In this sardonic comedy, after an executive is killed in a mysterious automobile accident, the French offices of his multinational company is inundated with mysteriously threatening be-ribboned anti-capitalist tracts, delivered overnight to everyone's desks. Later, the executive's body is brought to company offices for an official wake -- only no one at the company has ordered that such a thing be done. A mysterious prankster, who is able to imitate the voice of the company's president, has arranged these things. When Americans from the head office get wind of these developments, they institute a search for the perpetrator which leads to mysterious subterranean passages under the company's skyscraper.
Acting
Piccoli's deadpan bewilderment anchors the chaos perfectly.
Direction
Bertuccelli turns fluorescent offices into existential dread zones.
Director
Jean-Louis Bertuccelli
Jean Yanne
Director of human relations
Michel Piccoli
Saint-Ramé
Jean-Pierre Marielle
Roustev
Marlène Jobert
Madame Arangrude
Jean-Claude Brialy
Le Rantec
Michael Lonsdale
Abéraud
Robert Webber
American executive
Virginie Billetdoux
Simone, secretary
Philippe Brigaud
Selis
Gérard Caillaud
Chavegnac
Pierre Haudebourg
Samueru
Gérard Hérold
Térenne
Jean-Paul Muel
Fournier
Philippe Rouleau
Vasson
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This 1977 French production captures the era's deep skepticism of American corporate imperialism, with the multinational's Paris office serving as a colonial outpost.
Jean Yanne, who plays the HR director, was primarily known as a comedian and singer—his casting adds an extra layer of absurd unease to every scene.
FR
CH
