The Big Lebowski (1998) by Joel and Ethan Coen
“I’ve seen this film more than six times. And each time it makes me laugh like the very first time. The plot is crazy and delirious as often with the Coen brothers. What’s particulary outstanding in this movie though is the characters. “The Dude” (Jeff Bridges), Walter (John Goodman) and Donny (Steve Buscemi) embody three attaching and realistic characters while being incredibly dumb! The absolute loser, the nevrotic and the punching bag -three characters we all met in a school yard! Basing their storyline on this trio, the Coen brothers created a unique mix they’re the only ones to know about: realism, surrealism and absurd. Dialogues are fabulous, the dream sequences taken from the musicals of the 70s are perfect ; the direction is simple, consistent and always under control. It’s a very American movie but also very universal, sexy, made up like a good song with a very strong visual aspect. Also, the directors dare everything, like that amazing end when the wind blows Donny’s ashes on the Dude’s face. The punching-bag takes a revenge on Walter, his torturer, but the three still stick together! This is also eventually a film about friendship.”

Synopsis: Jeff Lebowski, a.k.a. “The Dude”, is a lazy man, who spends most of his time drinking shots and playing bowling with his buddy Walter. One day, two burglars hit him down. It seems like someone called Jackie Treehorn wants to recover a pile of money to a guy named Lebowski. But the burglars made a mix-up: the Lebowski they were looking for is a millionaire from Pasadena. The Dude decides to meet this wealthy man to obtain a refund for his damaged carpet…

About director Hany Tamba: Hany Tamba was awarded a Cesar (French Academy Award) in 2006 for his short film named After Shave. On August 13, his first feature film is released in France: Melodrama Habibi. The movie relates the story of Bruno Patrice (Patrick Chesnais), a star singer of the 70s, invited in Lebanon for the birthday of the wife of a rich billionaire, who didn’t forget about his past hit… In a gentle, funny and nostalgic way, the director keeps on with his exploration of the Lebanese society, its wounds, vitality and memory blanks…