''Park Benches'' (french: Bancs Publics (Versailles rive droite)) is a 2009 French film directed by

Bruno Podalydès Bruno Podalydès (born 11 March 1961) is a French writer, film director, producer and actor. His brother Denis Podalydès Denis Podalydès (born 22 April 1963) is a French actor and scriptwriter of Greek descent. Podalydès has appeared in more ...

, with an all-star cast.

Plot

''Bancs Publics'' tells the story of a lonely man, observed by employees from an office across the street, onlookers from the Square des Francines, and clients in the Brico-Dream shop.

Cast

* Ridan as The singer *

Denis Podalydès Denis Podalydès (born 22 April 1963) is a French actor and scriptwriter of Greek descent. Podalydès has appeared in more than 140 films and television shows since 1989. He starred in '' The Officers' Ward'', which was entered into the 2001 Can ...

as Aimé Mermot *

Samir Guesmi Samir Guesmi (born 7 October 1967) is a French actor. He has appeared in more than 90 films and television shows since 1988. Filmography Actor Filmmaker Theatre References External links * 1967 births Living people French male f ...

as Romain *

as Bretelle *

Laure Calamy Laure Calamy (born March 22, 1975) is a César Award-winning French film, TV and theatre actress best known for her roles in ''Call My Agent!'' and '' My Donkey, My Lover & I''. Early life Born in 1975, Calamy is the daughter of a psychologist ...

as Opportune *

Olivier Gourmet Olivier Gourmet (born 22 July 1963) is a Belgian actor. Gourmet was born in Namur. He won the Best Actor award at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival for his role in '' Le Fils'' by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne. He also appeared in ''La Promesse ...

as Maurice Begeard *

Chantal Lauby Chantal Lauby (born 23 March 1948) is a French actress, film director, screenwriter, humorist, comedian and television host. She is a member and founder of the group of comedians '' Les Nuls'' alongside Bruno Carette, Alain Chabat and Dominique ...

as Pascale *

Hippolyte Girardot Hippolyte Girardot (born Frédéric Girardot; 10 October 1955) is a French actor, film director and screenwriter. He is the father of actress Ana Girardot. Selected filmography * 1973: '' La Femme de Jean'', directed by Yannick Bellon, Rémi * ...

as Framework #1 *

Michel Vuillermoz Michel Vuillermoz (born 18 December 1962) is a French actor and scriptwriter. Vuillermoz has appeared in more than 100 films and 40 plays. In 1998, he received two Molière Award: Best Male Newcomer and Best Play for ''André le Magnifique''. ...

as Framework #2 *

Josiane Balasko Josiane Balasko (born Josiane Balašković; 15 April 1950) is a French actress, writer, and director. She has been nominated seven times for César Awards, and won twice. Career One of Balasko's most recognized roles among English speakers is ...

as Solange Renivelle * Éric Prat as The building inhabitant *

Thierry Lhermitte Thierry Lhermitte (; born 24 November 1952) is a French actor, director, writer and producer, best known for his comedic roles. He was a founder of the comedy troupe '' Le Splendid'' in the 1970s, along with, among others, Christian Clavier, Gé ...

as The medecin *

Micheline Dax Micheline Dax (3 March 1924 – 27 April 2014) was a French film and stage actress and singer. She did the voice to Ursula in the French dub in Disney's "The Little Mermaid". The Paris-born actress was born Micheline Josette Renée Etevenon. Sh ...

as The philosopher neighbor *

Bernard Campan Bernard Campan (born 4 April 1958, in Agen) is a French actor, film director and writer. He is a member of Les Inconnus trio of humorists. He won a César Award for Best Debut for ''Les Trois Frères'', and was nominated for best actor for hi ...

as The suspicious neighbor *

Julie Depardieu Julie Marion Depardieu (born 18 June 1973) is a French actress who has appeared in a number of successful films. Early life Born 18 June 1973 in Paris, she is the daughter of Gérard Depardieu, Gérard and Élisabeth Depardieu and the sister of t ...

as The suspicious neighbor's wife *

Pierre Arditi Pierre Arditi (born 1 December 1944) is a French actor. He is the brother of French actress Catherine Arditi. Life and career Born in Paris, his father was the painter Georges Arditi, from Marseille of Jewish descent, and his mother Yvonne ...

as Monsieur Borelly *

Claude Rich Claude Rich (8 February 1929 – 20 July 2017) was a French stage and screen actor. He began his career in the theater before his film debut in 1955. Personal life He married actress Catherine Renaudin on 26 June 1959. They had two daughters, ...

as The backgammon player #1 *

Michel Aumont Michel Henri Aumont (15 October 1936 – 28 August 2019) was a French theatre, film, and television actor. Throughout his career, he gained four Molière Awards and nominations for three César Awards. In 2015, he was made Grand Officer of the Na ...

as The backgammon player #2 *

Didier Bourdon Didier Bourdon (; born 23 January 1959) is a French actor, screenwriter and film director. He first reached stardom in France when he created the comedic trio Les Inconnus with Bernard Campan and Pascal Légitimus, which was very popular thro ...

as The captain #1 * Nicole Garcia as The radio's woman *

Vincent Elbaz Vincent Elbaz (born 3 February 1971) is a French actor. He has appeared in many French television shows and films. His first major role was in the 1994 film '' Le péril jeune''. Elbaz received the 1998 Jean Gabin Prize. Elbaz was born in Pari ...

as The jogger *

Mathieu Amalric Mathieu Amalric (; born 25 October 1965) is a French actor and filmmaker. He is best known internationally for his roles in the James Bond film '' Quantum of Solace'', in which he played the lead villain, Steven Spielberg's ''Munich'', Wes An ...

as The pram father *

Éric Elmosnino Éric Elmosnino (born 2 May 1964) is a French actor and musician. He is known internationally for portraying Serge Gainsbourg in '' Gainsbourg'', for which he won the César Award for Best Actor. He studied at the National Conservatory of Dramat ...

as The sleeper * Chiara Mastroianni as Marianne's mother *

Emmanuelle Devos Emmanuelle Devos (born 10 May 1964) is a French actress. She is the daughter of actress Marie Henriau. She won the César Award for Best Actress in 2002 for her performance in ''Sur mes lèvres'', directed by Jacques Audiard. She has also bee ...

as Arthur's mother *

Élie Semoun Élie Semoun (born Élie Semhoun on 16 October 1963) is a French comedian, actor, director, writer and singer. Life and career Élie Semoun was born in France, to a Sephardic Jewish family of Moroccan-Jewish and Algerian-Jewish descent. In ...

as The dredger #2 *

Isabelle Candelier Isabelle Candelier (born 12 June 1963) is a French film A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ...

as The left woman *

Guilaine Londez Guilaine Londez (born 1 January 1965) is a French film actress. She has appeared in more than sixty films since 1991. Filmography Theater References External links * {{DEFAULTSORT:Londez, Guilaine 1965 births Living people French ...

as The wallpapers client * Pascal Légitimus as The Beuck DCA client *

Amira Casar Amira Casar is a British-born actress who grew up in England, Ireland, and France. Early life Amira is the daughter of a Kurdish father and a Russian mother. She was born in London and was subsequently raised in England, Ireland, and France. Sh ...

as The socket client * Michael Lonsdale as The mat client *

Christophe Beaucarne Christophe Beaucarne, SBC is a Belgian cinematographer. He is the son of the poet Julos Beaucarne. He is a member of '' Association Française des directeurs de la photographie Cinématographique'' (AFC). He received the Magritte Award for Best C ...

as The Sporgex client *

Catherine Deneuve Catherine Fabienne Dorléac (born 22 October 1943), known professionally as Catherine Deneuve (, , ), is a French actress as well as an occasional singer, model, and producer, considered one of the greatest European actresses. She gained recogni ...

as The little cabinet client *

Benoît Poelvoorde Benoît Poelvoorde (, ; born 22 September 1964) is a Belgian actor and comedian. Early life His mother was a grocer and his father a driver, who died when Poelvoorde was still a minor. He attended the Jesuit Boarding School of Godinne before ...

as The peg client *

George Aguilar George Aguilar is a Mescalero Apache and Pascua Yaqui actor. He is best known for his roles as Cahuenga in ''Bagdad Café'', Johnny Sassamon in ''The Scarlet Letter'', Grandfather Stone in Dreamkeeper, Big Foot in '' Into the West'', and Ka ...

as Gary

References

External links

* *
''Park Benches''
at Fluge! Movie info * 2009 films French romantic comedy films Films directed by Bruno Podalydès 2000s French films France 2 Cinéma films {{2000s-France-film-stub