ADDITIONAL PRODUCTION INFORMATION

Art Director Maussion, Ivan

Cinematographer Serra, Eduardo

Film Editor Winding, Genevieve

Music Nachon, Angelique

Producer Carcassonne, Philippe

Producer Cleitman, René

Screenwriter Dewolf, Patrick

Screenwriter Leconte, Patrice

Sound Lenoir, Pierre

Production Company AMLF

Production Company Cinea

Production Company Hachette Premiere & Company

Production Company Max Films Communications

Production Company President Films

Production Company TF1 Films

Production Company Zoulou Films

Principal Cast Bohringer, Richard

Principal Cast Bouquet, Carole

Principal Cast Godreche, Judith

Principal Cast Lhermitte, Thierry

Principal Cast Miou-Miou

Principal Cast Noiret, Philippe

Principal Cast Rochefort, Jean

DESCRIPTION

TIFF NOTE

Patrice Leconte made his reputation as a successful commercial director with a decade of French farces full of pratfalls, unlikely puns and sexual slap-and-tickle gags -- all of which sold massive numbers of tickets at the local box offices. Yet, as dreadful as all that sounds, they were a hell of a lot of fun. Leconte used the entire cast of the Caf Splendide -- the finest comedy caf theatre in Paris (the Caf de la Gare had already fallen on hard times) -- and usually included Josiane Balasko (a comic genius still undiscovered in North America), Michel Blanc, Bernard Giraudeau, Anemone, Gerard Jugnot and Marie Anne Chazal: names celebrated in French film and theatre, comic or otherwise. Although intrinsically silly, his films contained elaborate and hilarious plot complications and gags, which never failed to amuse. His decision, then, to make a strange and deeply serious film about obsession, with Michel Blanc and Sandrine Bonnaire, shocked France film goers. "Monsieur Hire" was praised by international critics, who had never heard of Les bronzes, and it was beloved by festival goers everywhere. Leconte was suddenly considered a very serious auteur. But he hadn't abandoned comedy. His next film was lighter -- not exactly farce, but not as sombre as "Monsieur Hire" either. "Le Mari de la Coiffeuse" was an international hit. Leconte has lightened his tone a bit more with "Tango," a wildly absurd comedy with a bite. A man, incapable of being faithful to his wife, sleeps with one woman too many. In retaliation, his wife picks up the first man who passes, takes him home and into bed. Then she leaves. Her husband is, of course, disconsolate. Obviously, his only recourse is to kill his wife -- he can't give up sleeping around and she won't stand for his philandering. And he can't stand the idea that she might be happy with another man (he loves her, after all). He hires a not-quite- professional hit man, who does the job. Now a widower, he is carefree, but unhappy: what's to be done? Already a hit in France, "Tango" is a captivating romp with an edge that falls somewhere between the absurdity of farce and the darkness of "Monsieur Hire."

FESTIVAL PROGRAMMING HISTORY

TIFF CINEMATHEQUE PROGRAMMING HISTORY

TIFF YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMMING HISTORY

SUBJECTS

RELATED RECORDS

FRL-46576 research file