Banzaï

1983 1h 42m FR

😐

6.2

MID

⭐

IMDB

★6.2TMDB · 200★6IMDB · 1,967

Comedy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Michel works there manically solving people's problems over the phone. He is about to tie the knot with his girl friend Isabelle, an airline hostess. She flies all over the world, he hates to leave the office. A series of madcap mishaps involving theft or injury (as you would expect in his line of work) ensues after Michel promises Isabelle nothing will delay their marriage and she promises in turn that she's done flying. Once this unlikely promise is made, it becomes premise and both are forced into escalating white lies to maintain the appearance of keeping their word. Their predicament mounts as Isabelle is forced to do a few more flights, while Michel is compelled to travel to New York, Tunisia, and finally Hong Kong, where they are finally reunited in the throes of a contrived and hilarious drug deal involving a 747, water taxi chases, and martial arts.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Coluche
Michel Bernardin
Valérie Mairesse
Isabelle Morizet, fiancée de Michel
Marthe Villalonga
Mme Bernardin, mère de Michel
Rabah Loucif
Rachid
Didier Kaminka
Paul, le cousin de Michel
François Perrot
Le président de "Planète Assistance"
Éva Darlan
Carole, un médecin de "Planète Assistance"
Zabou Breitman
Sophia, de l'agence de voyages, l'amie d'Isabelle

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Claude Zidi
Writers: Claude Zidi
Languages: French
Countries: France

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 6

ERA

Did you know

43 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Claude Zidi, shot by Jean-Jacques Tarbès. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Vladimir Cosma. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Nicole Saunier shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 6

RUNTIME

Did you know

Coluche and Valérie Mairesse and Marthe Villalonga carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 6

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0083618 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Claude Zidi directs. Jean-Jacques Tarbès behind the camera. Vladimir Cosma scores. Nicole Saunier cuts. Produced in France. Dialogue in French.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

143 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Directed by Claude Zidi, shot by Jean-Jacques Tarbès. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Vladimir Cosma. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Nicole Saunier shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Coluche and Valérie Mairesse and Marthe Villalonga carry the top of the cast.
6IMDB entry: tt0083618 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.