Tout simplement noir

"The title is a reminder that in everyday language people no longer dare to use the word "black". They find it more chic to say "black". For us, there is no shame in saying "black": it's just a colour. This can be explained through the history of France, where the word "black" was used in negative contexts such as slavery and decolonization. Today, saying "black" is supposedly cooler. Like when you say "beur" instead of "arabe". - Jean-Pascal Zadi

We all remember the cult comedy C'est arrivé près de chez vous (1992) by Remy Belvaux, André Bonzel and Benoît Poelvoorde, in which the audience was offered a fake documentary in which a team of journalists followed a serial killer played by Benoît Poelvoorde. Tout simplement noir seems to be its worthy descendant, as its approach is so reminiscent of this film and in which we follow a failed actor, JP (Jean-Pascal Zadi, also co-screenwriter and co-director) who wants to organize the first big black protest march in France. From encounter to encounter, this film not only presents us in an offbeat and yet realistic way the French show-biz scene in which everyone tries to show off, to capture the public's attention, even if it means forgetting themselves in the process.

Far from resembling a succession of scenes featuring a large cast including Fary, Caroline Anglade, Fabrice Eboué, JoeyStarr, Ramzy Bedia, Melha Bedia, Lilian Thuram, Claudia Tagbo, Cyril Hanouna, Vikash Dhorasoo and Kareen Guiock, Lucien Jean-Baptiste, Eric Judor, Jonathan Cohen, Mathieu Kassovitz and Ahmed Sylla, the main thread of the film reveals a "black" humour mastered to perfection and in which the two directors Jean-Pascal Zadi and John Wax seem to have been able to express themselves freely without being censored. The more it aims right, the more it hurts and leads to laughter and being the main line of this film.

In the current context of the #BlackLiveMatters movement, this film easily finds its place and succeeds in making us laugh practically without any pause, so much so that it not only makes fun of the ego of certain artists, of the ideas conceived but also gives personalities of the entertainment world something to caricature. The scene between Fabrice Eboué, JP and Lucien Jean-Baptiste, in particular, is one that has everything to become cult.

In a French cinema that seeks either to be too academic or too commercial, even if it means repeating itself all too often, Tout simplement noir stands out as an over-the-top comedy that reminds us once again that in France we have excellent actors and that we are able to compete with these Hollywood comedies with its overpaid stars who no longer really seek to question themselves.

Simply noir comes at the perfect time to be heard and put some in their place. Only the overly simplistic and rushed ending would have deserved better treatment. Nevertheless, in these times of pandemic, Tout simplement noir is the type of film that should be seen in our cinemas to entertain us and forget about our daily lives in which we live at a pivotal moment in human evolution.

Tout simplement noir
Directed by Jean-Pascal Zadi and John Wax
Produced by Sidonie Dumas
Written by Jean-Pascal Zadi and Kamel Guemra
Starring Jean-Pascal Zadi, Fary, Caroline Anglade, Fabrice Eboué, JoeyStarr, Ramzy Bedia, Melha Bedia, Lilian Thuram, Claudia Tagbo, Cyril Hanouna, Vikash Dhorasoo, Kareen Guiock, Lucien Jean-Baptiste, Eric Judor, Fadily Camara, Rachid Djaïdani, Amelle Chahbi, Jonathan Cohen, Mathieu Kassovitz, Ahmed Sylla, Eriq Ebouaney, Moussa Mansaly, Soprano, Augustin Trapenard et Stéfi Celma
Cinematography : Thomas Brémond
Edited by Samuel Danési
Music : Christophe Chassol
Executive Producer : Marc Vadé
Production : Gaumont, C8 Films, Canal +
Distribution : Gaumont (France)
Release date : July, 8 2020 (France)

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