Jean Renoir's 1932 comedy remains one of the all-time classics of French cinema. It's a trenchant satire of the bourgeoisie, set in Paris, that begins when the despondent tramp Boudu (masterfully played by Michel Simon) tries to commit suicide by jumping into the Seine. He's rescued by the well-to-do bookseller Lestingois, and out of a misplaced and rather condescending sense of largesse, the bookseller adopts the bum as a welcomed houseguest, only to discover that the irrepressible Boudu is like a low-class bull in a high-class china shop. Uncouth (to say the least) but also irresistibly charming, he is Dionysus to Lestingois' Apollo (as French critic Jean Douchet observes in an illuminating bonus feature), a liberated force of nature who's both refreshing (as Lestingois' neglected wife eventually discovers) and doomed to wear out his welcome. The themes that Renoir so effectively and humorously mined continue to have contemporary relevance (American director Paul Mazursky adapted this story for his 1986 comedy Down and Out in Beverly Hills), and no matter what generation you belong to, Simon's performance is a joy to behold. As always, the Criterion Collection provides a wealth of new and vintage supplements, including an archival introduction by Renoir, an insightful interview with filmmaker Jean-Pierre Gorin, and an excerpt from a French television program featuring New Wave pioneer Eric Rohmer and critic Douchet discussing the film. Highly recommended. (J. Shannon)
Boudu Saved From Drowning
Criterion, 84 min., in French w/English subtitles, not rated, DVD: $29.95 Volume 20, Issue 6
Boudu Saved From Drowning
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