Friday - Movies
The Age
Thursday March 20, 2008
Iznogoud (2005)
World Movies, 8.30pmThe bande dessinee (comic book) holds a treasured place in French life. Many a bourgeois house has the complete set of Asterix le Gaulois proudly sitting on the library shelves (and sometimes sited, most conveniently, in the loo). French cinema has shared that interest, with the 12 (so far) Asterix films. One can now add to the list another key bande dessinee adaptation, Iznogoud, from writer Rene Goscinny and artist Jean Tabary. It concerns the meanest grand vizir in the history of Baghdad (Michael Youn), second in command to Caliph Haroun El Poussah (the late comic great Jacques Villeret). Iznogoud's legendary mantra is "I want to be caliph instead of the caliph". Not only is it enthusiastically chanted by schoolchildren across France, the nickname of Iznogoud is used to label the nakedly ambitious (Nicolas Sarkozy, for one). With a huge budget, lavish sets and colourful costumes, all energised by spirited dance numbers straight out of a Bollywood musical, director Patrick Braoude has fashioned a rip-roaring yarn for all ages. It is chaotic, noisy and occasionally stupid, but often great fun, a Tim Tam commercial on speed.
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