Micmacs (2009)

Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet

Starring: Dany Boon, André Dussollier, Nicolas Marié

A man and his friends come up with an intricate and original plan to destroy two big weapons manufacturers.

‘Micmacs’ tells the story of Bazil, and his vendetta against arms manufacturers. But this is no vengeance movie. It is pure satire. And it’s funny and entertaining!

When Bazil was just a boy, his dad was killed trying to defuse a landmine. 30 Years later, Bazil is hit in the head by a stray bullet during a shootout. Finding it too dangerous to remove the bullet, the doctors decide to leave the bullet in his head. By the time Bazil gets out of hospital, he is jobless and homeless. When he becomes a street performer, a man named Slammer notices him and takes him to a shelter.

But this is no ordinary shelter. The shelter is located underground – under a scrap yard – and the few people living there make their own inventions from trash. One of them, Fracasse, even holds the human cannonball Guinness World Record. Keeping order, is Mama Chow, who also cooks for them. What a bunch of unusual and interesting characters!

Bazil then decides to take on the arms dealers. In order to bring these two rival companies down, he cleverly plays them against each other. Each character contributes to their plan in a very unique way. This is a comedy, so off course everything is not believable, but it’s also not meant to be. This is satire after all, and it is indeed very funny!

Dany Boon delivers a wonderful if somewhat adorable performance as Bazil. I loved every single character, with great performances from some of Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s regulars. The film also features beautiful cinematography, and a good score.

‘Micmacs’ received 13 award nominations, winning 5 including Best Sound and Best Foreign Language Film.

In French.

Would I watch it again? Yes.