SUPERCONDRIAQUE

France, 2014, 104 minutes, Colour.
Dany Boon, Kad Merad, Alice Pol, Jean- Yves Berteloot.
Directed by Dany Boon.

Supercondriaque is a French comedy, humour, farce, combined with thriller aspects. It is a star vehicle for Dany Boon who made such an impact in France and overseas with Welcome to the Sticks.

He stars in this film but also directs and was responsible for the screenplay. He plays a medical photographer in his late 30s, absolutely obsessed with germs and health. He has a good friend, Dimitri, a doctor to whom he continually goes for support – exasperating Dimitri’s wife.

By contrived circumstances, the comedy changes to a blend of thriller and comedy with a visit to a refugee camp, his identity card being stolen, it being assumed that he is the leader of the cause – which endears him to Dimitri’s sister who follows up with her protests and campaigns. In the end, he becomes a new man, less concerned about his health and a romantic contact with Dimitri’s sister.

Particularly French, but entertaining in a broad comic way.

1. The popularity of Dany Boon in France, worldwide? Comic talent?

2. The French setting, the city, apartments and homes, exteriors, the countryside, the refugee camp, international?

3. The blend of hypochondriac comedy with thriller?

4. The portrait of Romain, his age, experience, photography, alone, fastidious, his obsessions, terms – the various sequences illustrating his care and concern? Comic
exaggeration?

5. Dimitri, his friend, Romain calling on him, his exasperation? His wife? His being imposed on, yet exceeding to Romain’s requests?

6. Camp, the refugees, Eastern Europe and Asia? Dimitri’s sister? Romain, his ID card, it being stolen? His identity taken? The assumption that he was the celebrity?

7. Dimitri’s sister, her personality? Devotion to causes? Concerns? Interaction with Romain? The authorities?

8. Romain and his new identity, the cause, his experience, the zealots? The encounters with the real Anton?

9. The resolution – and a new Romain?