Main Cast: Josiane Balasko, Anémone, Thierry Lhermitte, Marie-Anne Chazel, Christian Clavier
Release Year: 1982
Country: FR
Run Time: 90 minutes
Plot
Three workers in a social services office on Christmas Eve find themselves the center of a vortex of rag-tag humanity that all need their professional help, and more. Their visit from Santa Claus does not involve a trip down a chimney, but a walk-in by a somewhat derelict, irascible St. Nick hunting for the unfortunate Mrs. Nick, whose girth is wider than her husband's because she's carrying the future little Nick or Nicola -- she also has a sack, given that she is a bag lady, and she herself is in need of an orthodontist. This unusual couple is complemented by other characters in need of assistance, including a woefully abject transvestite and one character who no longer needs assistance because corpses are pretty much beyond help. Events conspire to bring everyone to the zoo, a fitting place for the cast of eccentrics, social workers not excluded. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
Gérard Jugnot - Felix; Bruno Moynot - Preskovitch; Jacques Francois - Pharmacist; Martin Lamotte - Mr. Leble; Jeanette Batti; Pierre Belot; Michel Blanc - Voix; Jacques Disses; Claire Magnin - Madame Leble; Jean-Pierre Clami; Michel Bonnet; Jean-Claude Bouillaud
Credit
Robin Katz - First Assistant Director, Jean-Marie Poire - Director, Catherine Kelber - Editor, Christian Ferry - Executive Producer, Vladimir Cosma - Composer (Music Score), Willy Holt - Production Designer, Robert Alazraki - Cinematographer, Yves Rousset-Rouard - Producer, Pierre Lenoir - Sound/Sound Designer, Josiane Balasko - Screenwriter, Marie-Anne Chazel - Screenwriter, Christian Clavier - Screenwriter, Gérard Jugnot - Screenwriter, Thierry Lhermitte - Screenwriter, Jean-Marie Poire - Screenwriter, Bruno Moynot - Screenwriter
Le Père Noël est une ordure (Santa Claus is a bastard) was a theatre piece created in 1979 by the troupe Le Splendid. In 1982 Jean-Marie Poiré adapted it for the screen.
Synopsis
A burlesque Christmas night where, at the duty office of a Parisian telephone station (S O S friendship in distress) , the volunteers are perturbed by the arrival of marginal characters and eccentrics who provoke a series of catastrophes. Pierre Montez (Thierry Lhermitte), and Thérèse (Anémone), will receive the visit of their neighbour M. Preskovic (Bruno Moynot) who will present them with some gastronomic specialities from his country - each one as revolting as each other one - , of Katia (Christian Clavier), an in despair transvestite, of Josette (Marie-Anne Chazel), the dumb cousin of Thérèse, as well as Félix (Gérard Jugnot) the seedy fiancé of Josette, dressed up as Santa Claus , prone to domestic violence and an inveterate thief.
