So Long, Stooge (1983)
A haunting French crime drama in which a solitary Paris night-shift worker forms a fateful bond with a young drug pusher on the run.
So Long, Stooge - Movie Information
- Original Title: Tchao Pantin
- Release Year: 1983
- Directed by: Claude Berri
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama, Crime
- Runtime: 1h 34m
- Original Language: French
- Spoken Languages: French
- Release Date (Theatrical): December 20, 1983 (France - U), February 17, 1985 (United States)
- Alternative Titles: Tchao Pantin (UK), Żegnaj, pajacu (PL), So Long, Stooge (US)
- Production Companies: Renn Productions
- Production Countries: France
So Long, Stooge - Plot
In the 18th Arrondissement of Paris, Lambert, an aloof garage manager working the night shift at a petrol station spends his time drinking on the job, content in his own company. One night, Bensoussan, a small-time drug pusher in dire straits falls in on a stolen moped pretending to need a spark plug. The two men develop an unlikely friendship.
So Long, Stooge - Trailer
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So Long, Stooge - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Claude Berri
Main Cast
- Coluche
- Agnès Soral
- Richard Anconina
- Mahmoud Zemmouri
- Philippe Léotard
- Mohamed Ben Smail
- Albert Dray
- Annie Kerani
- Pierrick Mescam
- Vincent Martin
Writers
- Claude Berri
- Alain Page
Producers
- Pierre Grunstein
- Christian Spillemaecker
So Long, Stooge - FAQs
What is So Long, Stooge about?
So Long, Stooge follows Lambert, a withdrawn night-shift petrol station attendant in Paris's 18th Arrondissement, who strikes up an unlikely friendship with Bensoussan, a young drug pusher in trouble. Their bond deepens with fateful and ultimately tragic consequences in this gritty French crime drama.
Who are the main actors in So Long, Stooge?
The film stars Coluche as Lambert, Richard Anconina as Youseff Bensoussan, and Agnès Soral as Lola. The supporting cast includes Philippe Léotard, Mahmoud Zemmouri, Mohamed Ben Smail, Albert Dray, Annie Kerani, Pierrick Mescam, and Vincent Martin.
Did Coluche win an award for So Long, Stooge?
Yes. Coluche won the César Award for Best Actor for his role as Lambert in So Long, Stooge at the 1984 César ceremony. The performance was widely considered a dramatic revelation, as Coluche was primarily known as a comedian before this film.
Is So Long, Stooge based on a true story?
No, So Long, Stooge is not based on a true story. It is adapted from Alain Page's novel Tchao Pantin, a work of fiction. The screenplay was co-written by director Claude Berri and novelist Alain Page, grounding the story in a realistic portrait of Parisian street life.
Who directed So Long, Stooge?
So Long, Stooge was directed by Claude Berri, the acclaimed French filmmaker also known for Jean de Florette and Manon des Sources. The film marked a darker, grittier turn in Berri's career and became one of the most celebrated French films of the 1980s.
When was So Long, Stooge released?
So Long, Stooge was released in France on December 20, 1983, and later opened in the United States on February 17, 1985. The film was produced by Renn Productions and became a major commercial and critical success upon its French release.
What genre is So Long, Stooge?
So Long, Stooge is a Drama and Crime film. It blends the atmosphere of a French noir thriller with a deeply humanist character study, exploring themes of loneliness, friendship, and vengeance against the backdrop of Paris's nocturnal underworld.
Where can I stream So Long, Stooge?
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