En place

En place, or how a youth worker in a working-class neighborhood becomes a presidential candidate. The film presents the underbelly of a presidential election with all the perfidies that accompany it (self-interest, betrayal), but also the life of the suburbs with multiple communities, on a format of three hours that allows the various developments.

Special mention to the cast, Jean-Pascal Zadi (as a naive man who always works in two stages), Benoît Poelvoorde (as a calculating politician completely interested), Éric Judor (as a perfidious advisor) in the lead, all perfect.

It is a comedy, but many underlying elements are not brilliant, whether in the presidential campaign or in the suburbs, with betrayals, influences, and not very nice elements everywhere, which make this series a dramatic comedy more than a comedy.

An over-the-top biting political satire on France's current social upheaval from both sides of the camp (left and right), with hilarious situations and other shenanigans lead by the charismatic performance of Jean-Pascal Zadi as Stephane Ble.

It is dirty politics and we have seen it countless times, but not when an average person from a low-social economic background decides to standup for the people. To make it even complicated and messy, Stephane is not white! This induces plenty of racial issues across the board, where even Stephane has run-ins with other cultures - and the opposite sex. But all with tongue firmly placed in cheek.

No race or political ideology is safe as this series shows warts and all, including the sensationalism from the media. By no means is it attempting to be subversive, but thought provoking through the fine art of a satirical comedy - where sometimes it is closer to the truth.

Jean-Pascal ZADI continues to impress with his art of identifying the wounds of France and talking about them with objectivity, humor and without violence or rancor. In this series, his surrealist character, a classic of the cinema, flies over the clichés . The story of this humble man from a working class neighborhood propelled into the media and political circus allows us to depict human relationships and political games. Zadi holds up a mirror to us with acertivity but never without malice. Without losing his comic talent, he uses the principle of the naïve (but not so much) who discovers the world to better point out its absurdities and pettiness. In the end he offers a face of France that we can only love as it is overflowing with energy and fun. Thank you!