The story : a charming village in the middle of nowhere in south-west France (Aulon in Hautes-Pyrénées), has seen its last business shut down, and now everyone is surviving on tiny state benefits. The mayor (Didier Bourdon) applies for a grant from Brussels, to restart another factory, but this will be given only if there is a doctor with a five years contract coming to the village. They find one for one month, and from there, they will imagine tricks to keep him and convince him that this is the right place to stay.
The comedy : The film is a succession of funny situations and gags, with the young doctor from the big city discovering life in an isolated place, with no mobile connection, and Internet access only in the morning at the Post Office. Villagers are more concerned by fishing and hunting, than by electronic music or game of cricket which is his passion. All this is run at slow pace, and the development of the story is not sophisticated, but never boring, and you will have a few good laughs. It is the best view of traditional deep countryside of France, thrown on screen with all possible clichés.
The result : I visit some friends sometimes in such a village, in the Puy de Dome. There is only one factory canning mushrooms, no shop except a van for groceries and bread stopping near the church every day. The school is still opened, but just, and the Post Office has closed long ago. So I could perfectly understand the problems addressed in the film. It is good to show remote communities in such a light way. The final product is a decent refreshing film, making you smile, and having you wonder if life is not better away from the traffic jams and the frenetic madness of our metropoles.