Nakache and Tolédano's films from worst to best
We have classified the 8 films of the director duo: where is Intouchables located? Our happy days ? The Meaning of the Party?
France 2 will rebroadcast this evening The meaning of the partynice comedyOlivier Nakache And Eric Toledano carried by a phenomenal Jean-Pierre Bacri. The opportunity to reshare our trope of the director duo, initially published for the theatrical release of their latest film, A difficult year.
8. I prefer that we remain friends (2005)
The first feature film directed by the duo is also the least known. A social tale that brings together Jean-Paul Rouve And Gérard Depardieu in this fable about a single, hypochondriac computer scientist who discovers life thanks to the advice of a hedonist. We already find some snippets of the cinema of Takache and Tolédano, their idea of relationships with others, their approach to solitude and social discomfort. A touching exercise, but not yet completely completed, and largely unnoticed at the time of its release, with only 330,000 admissions in theaters. Unthinkable today for the duo.
7. So close (2009)
Nakache and Tolédano have always loved filming living together and this obsession shines like never before in this chronicle which attempts to redefine the family in the broad sense. Around Vincent Elbaz, Isabelle Carré And François-Xavier Demaison, we get to know the Marcianos, their little secrets and their big hypocrisies, to tell both the need to have loved ones and the suffering that this can also cause. A fun character comedy, in the vein of Bacri-Jaoui from the 90s, but seen by fewer than 800,000 spectators at the time.
6. Samba (2014)
Perhaps the duo's most ambitious film. Succeeding in the communion of Hollywood romantic comedy and French sociological realism was a challenge. But the synthesis is successful, because it manages to slalom between the clichés, again focusing on Omar Sy, which thwarts the stereotype of the “good” immigrant. An ideal face for this popular and political film where an undocumented migrant becomes a rom'com hero. A lovely modern tale acclaimed by 5 million spectators across Europe.
5. A difficult year (2023)
After a break of six years without a film, marked by Covid and confinements, the duo returns to the cinema, to continue their portrait of the world after, already meticulously outlined in their series In Therapy. Their social satire aims to be the photograph of an era, somewhere between the drama of overconsumption, the misery of inflation and awareness of the climate crisis. Jonathan Cohen, Pio Marmai And Noémie Merlant form an astonishing trio, for what will undoubtedly be one of the great successes of this end of year in theaters.
4. our happy days (2006)
This is the film that started it all. Nakache and Tolédano's first hit. Their first collaboration on the big screen with Omar Sy. And a big nod to the first meeting of the duo, who met in the early 1990s, when they were summer camp leaders. Several short films were born from this meeting, including These happy days (in 2001) adapted 5 years later in this feature film which has become cult. A resolutely “feel good” summer film, which depicts with candor and a certain nostalgia childhood and the memories that go with it, and from there, the difficulty of growing up in today's society. A resounding success validated by 1.4 million entries.
3. Out of Standards (2019)
A work apart in the duo's filmography. First, by its astonishing duo Vincent Cassel And Reda Kateb. Then by its quasi-documentary approach. The story is largely inspired by two educators who have been caring for autistic people for years, as well as the work of the associations Le Silence des Justes and Le Relais Île-de-France. The deliberately realistic staging emphasizes the devotion of these everyday heroes, and instills deep emotion. The film attracted more than 2 million spectators in theaters and garnered 8 César nominations… but 0 awards.
2. The meaning of the party (2017)
Still no César for Nakache and Tolédano despite 10 nominations this time! No matter, their “Bacri movie” is a huge popular success crowned with 3 million admissions. The duo looks at love and marriage, with an absolutely delightful second degree. Playing with the codes of traditional romantic comedy and juggling a gallery of hilarious supporting roles (Ivanov and Rouve in the lead), he manages to tell the story of the social malaise of an era, without ever falling into a cynical existential trip. There floats above this celebration a bubbling tragicomic melancholy, which admirably reflects the immense talent of its star incarnation: Jean-Pierre Bacri in its last essential role.
1. Untouchables (2011)
How to save French comedy from caricature? Starting from an eminently difficult subject, namely the meeting between a paralyzed aristo and his home help from the suburbs, Eric Toledano And Olivier Nakache achieved a small miracle. An incredibly tender and touching social chronicle, an ode to tolerance and the lives of others, which mischievously avoids the usual pitfalls of the genre. Without sentimentality or good feelings, the duo Omar Sy / François Cluzet upsets, greatly helped by the wonderful music of the Italian pianist Ludovico Einaudi. A suspended moment in the 7th French art. And 19.5 million admissions in France, the 3rd biggest success of all time.
