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L'Africain
1983 Adventure / Comedy
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Credits
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Director: Philippe de Broca
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Script: Gérard Brach, Philippe de Broca
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Photo: Jean Penzer
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Music: Georges Delerue, George Gershwin
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Cast: Catherine Deneuve (Charlotte),
Philippe Noiret (Victor),
Jean-François Balmer (Paul Planchet),
Jacques François (Patterson),
Jean Benguigui (Aristote Poulakis),
Joseph Momo (Bako),
Vivian Reed (Joséphine),
Pierre Michaël (Le P.D.G),
Gordon Heath (Le ministre),
Raymond Aquilon (Le commandant),
Gisèle Charpentier (La matronne),
Maxime Dufeu (Un cadre)
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Country: France
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Language: French
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Runtime: 101 min
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Aka: The African
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Summary
Far from the hustle and bustle of modern civilisation, Victor, a keen conservationist,
has settled in an unspoiled area of East Africa. One day, his ex-wife Charlotte
arrives in the area to assess whether it is suitable for development as a holiday village.
Naturally Victor is opposed to the project, so he flies Charlotte and her devoted assistant
Planchet to a remote area where he abandons them. Desperate, the stranded couple
find an old truck, which they manage to repair. They then find themselves the target
of Poulakis, a ruthless ivory poacher. Realising the danger that his ex-wife is
in danger, Victor comes to the rescue…
Review
This well-paced adventure-comedy from Philippe de Broca takes an ironic swipe at colonialism
and conservatism whilst offering a satisfying parody of the Hollywood African adventure
sub-genre. As is typical in Broca’s films (particularly the better ones),
the comedy is skilfully restrained for the most part but with some occasional bursts
of outlandish farce. The film has an exotic location whose cinematic potential is
exploited to the full – another characteristic of De Broca’s distinctive brand
of cinema. Whilst individually Philippe Noiret and Catherine Deneuve work well in
the film it is hard to believe their two characters could ever have been man and wife.
Noiret’s ebullient performance is nevertheless a treat, combining wicked self-mockery
and touching pathos. Overall, an enjoyable film which is all the more amusing for
its camp, tongue-in-cheek characterisation and rampant political incorrectness.
© James Travers 2004
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