Who Is Bernard Tapie? (2001)

User Rating:

5.5/10   

Director:

Marina Zenovich

Genre:

Documentary

Plot:

This documentary tells two stories simultaneously: it's a profile of Bernard Tapie, a wealthy man who...

Plot Keywords:

French Politics | Question In Title | Character Name In Title

Cast

Claude Lelouch	...	Himself
Marina Zenovich	...	Herself
Bernard Tapie	...	Himself
Anne-Laure Plante	...	Herself
Franz-Olivier Giesbert	...	Himself - Editor-in-Chief, Le Figaro
Dana Thomas	...	Newsweek
Jean-Xavier Brager	...	Himself - Marseille Resident
Laurent Joffrin	...	Himself - Le Nouvel Observateur
Alan Riding	...	Himself - New York Times
Valerie Lecasble	...	Co-Author, Le Flambeur: The True Life of Bernard Tapie
Rona Waddington	...	Herself
Henri Pradel	...	Himself - Present Owner (Bernard Tapie's childhood home)
Jean Leclerc	...	Himself - Childhood Friend
Françoise Moreau	...	Author, Bernard Tapie: A Hero Against His Will
Christophe Bouchet	...	Himself - Author of three books on Tapie

Runtime:

56 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:PG

Filming Locations:

59 - Hôtel du Pas-de-Calais, Rue des Saints-Pères, Paris 6, Paris, France

Company:

Graceful Pictures

Movie Connections:

References Children of the Revolution (1996)

Soundtrack:

Curves

Interesting man, annoying (as well as narcissistic) woman

One line sticks out to me from the director of the film, "I'm not a stalker!" When I heard her say that, I couldn't help but yell back at her as if she could hear me, "Yes, you are!" Bernard Tapie is, indeed, an excellent subject for a documentary and I find his story fascinating. That is where the line is drawn. If we were to learn this man's story without the added narcissism and obsession from the director, then this would have been a first rate documentary.

I could stand her obsession at the beginning of the documentary when it seemed she was just trying to get a hold of the man by way of the telephone, but when it came to the point where she was shown repeatedly going up to Bernard's home and trying to decide whether or not to press the buzzer--that was way too far.

In fact, at the end of the film when she tells Bernard that she is going back to L.A. and he says "good!"... I have to agree with him. Much more respect to him for not ever giving the interview, at least not to this woman.

Overall... like I said: the half about the man was quality, but add the narcissistic crap with the director and you got a mediocre documentary.

I give it a 5 out of 10.