Camping
2006 · Directed by Fabien Onteniente
Original language: French
- comedy
The story
Plastic surgeon Michel Saint-Josse is on his way to Spain where he hopes to spend a stress-free holiday in a luxury hotel with his teenage daughter Vanessa. When his car breaks down near a camping, Michel accepts the offer of help from an extrovert gigolo camper named Patrick Chirac. Whilst their car is being repaired, Michel and Vanessa agree to stay in Patrick’s well proportioned tent, not knowing that, thanks to a series of mishaps, it will be their home for several days...
What it’s like
Bright, sun-saturated summer light over a crowded French campsite, with wide establishing shots of tents, caravans and sun-faded parasols, and a broad, bustling framing that lets the comedy play out in full view. The palette is warm and saturated: yellow canvas, cheap plastic furniture, pale pool water and the orange glow of evenings around the barbecue. The camera stays fairly plain and functional, with lots of medium two-shots and simple cutting, so the attention falls on faces and reactions. The score is light and bouncy, with jaunty accordion-tinged melodies and playful pop cues that keep the mood buoyant. The vibe is sunny, chaotic and warm-hearted, the kind of gently ridiculous summer comedy that suits a lazy afternoon, a comfort rewatch, or a relaxed evening with friends. Pacing is brisk and episodic, moving from one small mishap to the next, while the emotional core is a stiff, uptight father slowly loosening up beside an easygoing new neighbour and his tight-knit community of campers. Its humour is broad and often slapstick, with some crude jokes and sexual innuendo but no real violence, cruelty or lasting darkness. It is good for viewers who want something light, funny and undemanding, especially fans of French ensemble comedies about holidaymakers and mismatched families.
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