Zazie dans le metro
Directed by Louis Malle
Written by Louis Malle and Jean-Paul Rappeneau from a novel by Raymond Queneau
1960/France
Nouvelle Editions de Films
First viewing/Netflix rental
[box] Uncle Gabriel: [Looking at the Eiffel Tower] I wonder why Paris is always pictured as a dame.[/box]
For me, one of the least funny things on the planet is a mean, bratty little kid. Naturally, I hated this movie.
Zazie, a 10-year-old country girl, is left with her Parisian Uncle Gabriel (Philippe Noiret) for a couple of days. Her one goal is to ride the Metro. Unfortunately, it is on strike. So instead, she smart mouths all the adults, gets into a lot of destructive mischief, and has various solo adventures.
This is basically a crazy movie about nothing so a further plot summary is unnecessary. Some continuing characters include a dirty old man, a hapless widow, a taxi driver, etc. Zazie makes life miserable for all of them.
Noiret is one of my favorite actors and Malle is high on my list of directors. I know this is supposed to be a madcap farce. When you add the personality of Zazie to a bunch of unfunny food gags, it only succeeded in irritating me. My husband hated it as well.
Criterion: Three Reasons to watch
Oh hush.
Malle is my favorite French director, and it would be difficult for me to say if it’s more because of Zazie dans la metro or because of Elevator to the Gallows.
Zazie dans la Metro is hilarious!
We can’t agree on everything!
Merely seeing the title brought a smile to my face, I’ll be looking for it to see if it’s on TCM again eventually.
So Home Alone is a big fav?
You know, that is one movie I have never seen! Is the kid mean and bratty to everybody he encounters, including his family, or just some burglars?