The Bidochons are a full-blown French phenomenon. Not that there is anything in the slightest exciting about them. In fact, they're extraordinarily ordinary. A pair of pettifogging, miserable skinflints, who met each other through a matrimonial agency, they spend their days grumbling about the bills and dreaming of a better life.

Created in strip cartoon form by Christian Binet, the Bidochons have all but conquered the world. In France, they've long since become an institution. (More than 5 million of Binet's Bidochon books have already been sold to eager French readers.) Their (non) adventures are savoured by American, Greek, Swedish, Italian and German readers, and have inspired exhibitions and stage plays.

Even the Chinese have taken Robert and Raymond Bidochon to their hearts.

As director Serge Korber (Les Feux De La Chandeleur, L'Aigle Et Le Cheval) sees it, we're all like the Bidochons. We may gloat at their misfortunes and look down on them. But we're no better ourselves.

Besides, it's hard not to warm to the couple as they struggle through life in their own heroic fashion. As played by Anémone and Jean-François Stevenin, they're comic, yes, but also perversely sympathetic. Vive Les Bidochon!

Geoffrey Macnab

Prod: Serge & Marie-Claire Korber

Dir: Serge Korber

Ph: Jean-Jacques Tarbes

Ed: Marie-Claire

Korber Prod des: Michel Farge

Music: Alain Goraguer

Cast: Anémone, Jean-François Stevenin, Annie Girardot, Daniel Gelin, Catherine Lachens, Jean-Pierre Cassel

Screening: 23 June, 22.00, French Institute

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