Pas besoin d'argent: A Charming Mess of Old French Comedy

Should you watch Pas besoin d'argent today? Honestly, only if you’re into the kind of black-and-white comedy that moves at the speed of a jittery squirrel. If you want high-concept drama or crisp editing, stay away. But if you like watching people get into increasingly ridiculous debt and social binds, you'll probably have a decent time.

The whole thing feels like a stage play that decided to wander outside for a bit. Jeanne Lion is clearly the anchor here, and watching her try to keep the scene from totally falling apart is the best part of the movie. 🎭

There is a sequence about halfway through involving a dinner table that feels like it goes on for an eternity. It’s not necessarily bad, but you can tell the actors were just as exhausted as the audience by the end of the take. Nobody really knows where the scene is going, and that creates this weirdly genuine tension.

It’s not as sharp as La tavola dei poveri, which also deals with the whole "being broke" vibe but with way more bite. Here, things are just... polite. Everyone is broke, but they’re wearing nice suits while they fret about it. It’s a strange, cozy little world.

Random Notes:

• The lighting in the interior shots looks like they just pointed a single bulb at the ceiling and hoped for the best.
• Gaston Gabaroche has a way of looking confused that makes me think he actually lost his script.
• The pacing is so erratic it’s almost impressive.

It reminds me a little of the frantic energy in Trolley Troubles, but with people instead of cartoons. It’s messy. It’s dated. Sometimes the dialogue just stops for no reason. But it has a heartbeat, which is more than I can say for most things I watch these days.

Don't look for a grand moral here. You won't find one. Just enjoy the ride, even when it hits a few potholes. 📽️