Winner of the Special Jury Award at the 2025 Alpe d’Huez International Comedy Film Festival, Luna Palace brings us the heist movie of the year. Based on the true events of the theft of 5 paintings from the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris in 2010, The French Job is a heist film that interweaves fiction with fact in a clever way.
Ironically, the movie starts with the main character, Yonathan, getting scammed nearly 120 euros for a street caricature of his young daughter. From that moment on, we are taken on a chaotic ride.
Yonathan (Melvil Poupaud), is a luxury watch repairer who unwittingly falls in league with scheming con artist Éric (Sofiane Zermani), and his acquirer of stolen goods, Jo (Steve Tientcheu). When Jo pulls off the coup of the century, stealing a Braque, a Léger, a Picasso, a Modigliani and a Matisse, altogether valued at over 100 million euros, a madcap farce ensues.
Melvil Poupaud does an excellent job playing the unwilling criminal, letting Éric sweep him along into the mayhem and upending his life, despite his better judgement. Actor Sofiane Zermani played his role to perfection as the loudmouthed, pushy and charismatic opportunist.
As an art lover, I was pretty traumatised seeing Yoni break down the priceless canvases. That said, I did enjoy the film for what it was – the sheer absurdity and dark humour of the film made for an amusing watch, although it did plod along in parts.
The fact that the theft actually happened added another dimension for me. Sadly, those five paintings have never been recovered. Although, like in the film, the art was supposedly disposed of, experts believe they may have been sold, perhaps in Israel. We may never know.
Ultimately, The French Job is more than a mildly funny heist movie. It is a cautionary tale about how casually something so priceless can be reduced to nothing.
The French Job is showing at the Alliance Française French Film Festival from 19th March until 14th April