For Pierre Brochant and his friends, Wednesday is “Idiots' Day”. The idea is simple: each person has to bring along an idiot. The one who brings the most spectacular idiot wins the prize. Tonight, Brochant is ecstatic. He has found a gem. The ultimate idiot, “A world champion idiot!”. What Brochant doesn’t know is that Pignon is a real jinx, a past master in the art of bringing on catastrophes...
Acting
Jacques Villeret's Pignon — devastating innocence, zero self-awareness, absolute perfection.
Writing
Veber's clockwork structure: every setup pays off, every lie compounds beautifully.
Direction
Single-location tension that keeps tightening until you can't breathe.
Director
Francis Veber
Jacques Villeret
François Pignon
Thierry Lhermitte
Pierre Brochant
Francis Huster
Juste Leblanc
Daniel Prévost
Lucien Cheval
Alexandra Vandernoot
Christine Brochant
Catherine Frot
Marlène Sasseur
Edgar Givry
Jean Cordier
Christian Pereira
Doctor Sorbier
Benoît Bellal
Bichaud, first animator
Jacques Bleu
Third animator
Philippe Brigaud
Boomerang enthusiast guest
Michel Caccia
Guest
Laurent Gendron
Guest
Pétronille Moss
Louisette Blond
Pierre-Arnaud Juin
Boissonade
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Jacques Villeret was so associated with Pignon that 'pignonnerie' entered French slang for blundering foolishness. He reportedly hated being recognized only for this role.
The film spawned a disastrous 2010 American remake ('Dinner for Schmucks') that grossed $86 million but missed the original's moral razor — Veber's version lets the idiot win without becoming cruel itself.
FR
