The Big Hit (Un Triomphe)
When struggling actor Etienne (Welcome to the Sticks’ Kad Merad) accepts a job directing theatre workshops in a prison, he is surprised to discover a wealth of acting talent among the initially resistant inmates. Seeing an opportunity for success, Etienne convinces the prison warden (Marina Hands) to allow the group to present Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot outside of the prison, with a tour of performances for the general public.
Based on true events, which happened in Sweden in 1985, writer-director Courcol has relocated the action to France, and employed a superb ensemble cast, to deliver a crowd-pleasing film that earned the Best European Comedy prize at the 2020 European Film Awards.
Director: Emmanuel Courcol
Cast: Kad Merad, Marina Hands, David Ayala, Sofian Khammes, Pierre Lottin
Festivals:
Cannes Film Festival 2020
IFI French Film Festival 2020
Seattle International Film Festival 2021
Awards:
Winner - European Comedy, European Film Awards 202
‘Emmanuel Courcol channels the feel-good energy of films like The Full Monty or Francophone dramedy Sink Or Swim for his latest, which fictionalises the true story of Swedish actor Jan Jönson’s attempt to help prisoners stage a version of Samuel Beckett’s Waiting For Godot’
Amber Wilkinson, Eye For Film
‘Put The Big Hit on your must-see-for-big-surprises list.’
- Kurt, Brokaw, The Independent Magazine (New York)