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Poster for Monsieur Batignole

Monsieur Batignole

Seen it?

2002 | 100 min | Comedy, Drama

Weeknight Watch

Why it’s a Weeknight Watch

With almost no lasting buzz and soft box office, it's a mixed bag. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for anyone who wants a laugh. If you loved Casablanca or The Pianist, start here.
The mood
Funny with heart.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 40 min.
What might put you off
It's in French, so expect subtitles (or a dub).

In 1942, in an occupied Paris, the apolitical grocer Edmond Batignole lives with his wife and daughter in a small apartment in the building of his grocery. When his future son-in-law and collaborator of the German Pierre-Jean Lamour calls the Nazis to arrest the Jewish Bernstein family, they move to the confiscated apartment. Some days later, the young Simon Bernstein escapes from the Germans and comes to his former home. When Batignole finds him, he feels sorry for the boy and lodges him, hiding Simon from Pierre-Jean and also from his wife. Later, two cousins of Simon meet him in the cellar of the grocery. When Pierre-Jean finds the children, Batignole decides to travel with the children to Switzerland.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsNot counted

    Not enough reviews on record yet

  • AudiencesSolid

    7.0 out of 10

  • AwardsNot counted

    No major awards or nominations

  • Box office & staying powerBelow par

    $9 million worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactWeak

    About 2K people sought it out in the past year

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Cast & crew

Directed by Gérard Jugnot

  • Gérard JugnotEdmond Batignole
  • Jules SitrukSimon Bernstein
  • Michèle GarciaMarguerite Batignole
  • Jean-Paul RouvePierre-Jean Lamour
  • Alexia PortalMicheline Batignole
  • Violette BlanckaertSarah Cohen
  • Daphné BaiwirGuila Cohen
  • Götz BurgerSS Col. Spreich
  • Élisabeth CommelinIrène
  • Hubert Saint-MacaryGendarmerie lieutenant