Paris, France, 2001. Octave Parango, a young advertiser working at the Ross & Witchcraft advertising agency, lives a suicidal existence, ruled by cynicism, irresponsibility and debauchery. The obstacles he will encounter in developing a campaign for a new yogurt brand will force him to face the meaning of his work and the way he manages his relationship with those who orbit around his egotistic lifestyle.
Direction
Kounen's frantic energy mirrors Octave's unraveling perfectly.
Acting
Dujardin weaponizes charm before drowning in it.
Editing
Aggressive cuts that feel like a panic attack in Premiere Pro.
Director
Jan Kounen
Jean Dujardin
Octave Parango
Jocelyn Quivrin
Charlie Dagout
Patrick Mille
Jeff Marolles
Vahina Giocante
Sophie
Elisa Tovati
Tamara
Nicolas Marié
Alfred Duler
Dominique Bettenfeld
Jean-Christian Gagnant
Antoine Basler
Marc Maronnier
Fosco Perinti
Giovanni Di Toro
Cendrine Orcier
Fabienne
Dan Herzberg
Steven
Arsène Mosca
Dealer
Niels Dubost
Groobad Father
Aurélie Boquien
Groobad Mother
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The film adapts Frédéric Beigbeder's semi-autobiographical novel; he cameoed as a TV presenter and allegedly based Octave's worst moments on his own ad agency meltdowns.
The 99 francs price point deliberately evokes France's psychological pricing threshold — the film argues we've been trained to find meaning in what costs just under a round number.
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