''Whatever You Say'' (original title: ''Mon idole'') is a 2002 French
comedy-drama film
Comedy drama (also known by the portmanteau dramedy) is a hybrid genre of works that combine elements of comedy and drama. In film, as well as scripted television series, serious dramatic subjects (such as death, illness, betrayal, grief, etc. ...
directed by
Guillaume Canet
Guillaume Canet (; born 10 April 1973) is a French actor, film director and screenwriter, and Show jumping, show jumper.
Canet began his career in theatre and television before moving to film. He starred in several films like ''Joyeux Noël'', ...
and starring
François Berléand
François Berléand (; born 22 April 1952) is a French actor.
He plays Gilles Triquet, the officer manager and equivalent of David Brent in ''Le Bureau'', the French version of ''The Office'', produced by Canal+. He also appeared in the 2002 f ...
, Guillaume Canet,
Diane Kruger
Diane Kruger (; Heidkrüger; ; born 15 July 1976) is a German actress. Early in her career, she gained worldwide recognition and received the Trophée Chopard from the Cannes Film Festival.
Kruger became known for her roles in films such as ...
,
Daniel Prévost
Daniel Prévost (; born 20 October 1939) is a French actor, comedian and writer.
Early life
Daniel Prévost, alias Denis Forestier, was born to Micheline Chevalier and Mohand Ait Salem. His father was of Berber descent from Algeria (Kabylie ...
, and
Clotilde Courau
Clotilde Marie Pascale di Savoia, Princess of Venice (née Clotilde Marie Pascale Courau; born 3 April 1969) is a French actress. She was married to Emanuele Filiberto di Savoia, Montgomery-Massingberd, Hugh. Burke's Royal Families of the World ...
.
Plot
Philippe Letzger (
Philippe Lefebvre) is the host of ''It's Tissue Time!'', an exploitation television game show where contestants are made to cry. The show's audiences are warmed up by one of Letzger's assistants, Bastien (
Guillaume Canet
Guillaume Canet (; born 10 April 1973) is a French actor, film director and screenwriter, and Show jumping, show jumper.
Canet began his career in theatre and television before moving to film. He starred in several films like ''Joyeux Noël'', ...
), an ambitious young man who provides Letzger with good ideas for the show, for which his boss eagerly takes credit. Bastien tolerates Letzger's antics in order to work with Jean-Louis Broustal (
François Berléand
François Berléand (; born 22 April 1952) is a French actor.
He plays Gilles Triquet, the officer manager and equivalent of David Brent in ''Le Bureau'', the French version of ''The Office'', produced by Canal+. He also appeared in the 2002 f ...
), the show's sophisticated producer whom he admires. Bastien's girlfriend, Fabienne (
Clotilde Courau
Clotilde Marie Pascale di Savoia, Princess of Venice (née Clotilde Marie Pascale Courau; born 3 April 1969) is a French actress. She was married to Emanuele Filiberto di Savoia, Montgomery-Massingberd, Hugh. Burke's Royal Families of the World ...
), is frustrated by his worship of the suave producer. Bastien is equally frustrated when he finds out that the blonde he is attracted to at the office is in fact Broustal's young wife, Clara (
Diane Kruger
Diane Kruger (; Heidkrüger; ; born 15 July 1976) is a German actress. Early in her career, she gained worldwide recognition and received the Trophée Chopard from the Cannes Film Festival.
Kruger became known for her roles in films such as ...
).
One day, Broustal begins to take interest in Bastien's ideas for the show, and invites him to spend the weekend with him and his wife at their country estate to work on a concept for a new show called ''Proof in Pictures''. When they arrive, Clara quickly seduces Bastien, but Broustal does not seem to care. During the weekend, Broustal tells the young man that he can make him a television star, but the couple's motives seem strange, and possibly sinister.
Cast
*
François Berléand
François Berléand (; born 22 April 1952) is a French actor.
He plays Gilles Triquet, the officer manager and equivalent of David Brent in ''Le Bureau'', the French version of ''The Office'', produced by Canal+. He also appeared in the 2002 f ...
as Jean-Louis Broustal
*
Guillaume Canet
Guillaume Canet (; born 10 April 1973) is a French actor, film director and screenwriter, and Show jumping, show jumper.
Canet began his career in theatre and television before moving to film. He starred in several films like ''Joyeux Noël'', ...
as Bastien
*
Diane Kruger
Diane Kruger (; Heidkrüger; ; born 15 July 1976) is a German actress. Early in her career, she gained worldwide recognition and received the Trophée Chopard from the Cannes Film Festival.
Kruger became known for her roles in films such as ...
as Clara Broustal
*
Philippe Lefebvre as Philippe Letzger
*
Daniel Prévost
Daniel Prévost (; born 20 October 1939) is a French actor, comedian and writer.
Early life
Daniel Prévost, alias Denis Forestier, was born to Micheline Chevalier and Mohand Ait Salem. His father was of Berber descent from Algeria (Kabylie ...
as M. Balbot
*
Clotilde Courau
Clotilde Marie Pascale di Savoia, Princess of Venice (née Clotilde Marie Pascale Courau; born 3 April 1969) is a French actress. She was married to Emanuele Filiberto di Savoia, Montgomery-Massingberd, Hugh. Burke's Royal Families of the World ...
as Fabienne
*
Jacqueline Jehanneuf as Maryvonne
*
Andrée Damant
Andrée Damant (20 September 1929 – 6 December 2022) was a French actress.
Early life
Andrée Damant was born on 20 September 1929 in Avignon.
Career
Damant starred in many commercials. She also specialized in the roles of sympathetic Méri ...
as Micheline
*
Gilles Lellouche
Gilles Lellouche (; born 5 July 1972) is a French actor and director. He was nominated twice for a César Award; in 2006 for Most Promising Actor and in 2011 for Best Supporting actor for his performance in '' Little White Lies'' (2010).
Earl ...
as Daniel Bénard
*
Jean-Paul Rouve
Jean-Paul Rouve (; born 26 January 1967) is a French actor, screenwriter, film producer and director. He is a founding member of the Les Robins des Bois comedy troupe, active from 1996 onwards.
He has appeared in over 70 film and television pro ...
as Patrick
*
Anne Marivin
Anne Marivin (born 23 January 1974) is a French actress. She has appeared in more than fifty film and television productions since 1994.
Marivin was noticed in television appearances such as ''Tel père, tel flic'' (2001) and ''Père et Maire'' ...
as The assistant
*
Laurent Lafitte
Laurent Lafitte (born 22 August 1973) is a French actor. He is known for playing the role of Patrick in ''Elle''. In March 2016 he was named as the host of the opening and closing ceremonies at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival
The 69th Cannes F ...
as Fabrice
*
Pierre Jolivet
Pierre Jolivet (; born 9 October 1952) is a French director, actor, screenwriter, and producer. His film ''Zim and Co.'' was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival and his film ''The Night Watchman (2015 film) ...
as Bertrand Vigneau
Accolades
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Whatever You Say (film)
2002 films
2000s French-language films
Films directed by Guillaume Canet
French comedy-drama films
Films about television
2002 directorial debut films
2000s French films
2002 comedy-drama films
French-language comedy-drama films