OSS 117: Cairo Nest of Spies
ICA Films
R2 DVD
French
comedian Jean Dujardin is convincing as French Agent OSS 117 aka Hubert
Bonisseur de la Bath in this outrageous spy spoof. Based on the 1949 novels by Jean Bruce, the
movie brings to life the suave yet highly eccentric character of OSS 117. He is
both refined and yet arrogant, successful in his work and yet terrifying
ignorant of what goes on around him. Personally I have always had some trouble
with characters such as Maxwell Smart and Inspector Clouseau, I find the
bumbling fool persona rather irritating. I absolutely deplore Mr.Bean. OSS 117
however is a different type of character, while certainly a bit Maxwell Smart
like in his ignorance and terrible mistakes; he is also witty, debonair and
intelligent. This is refined humour with smart jokes and some great punch
lines.
The
story opens with a mission during World War II.
OSS agents 117 and his comrade Jack Jefferson are on an airborne mission
to steal some blueprints and while they succeed admirably, Jack is later
killed.
Not
only does OSS 117 want payback but the agency (with direct instructions from
the French President Rene Coty) want him to travel to Egypt and solve a brewing
international crisis in which everybody is embroiled. The only problem is that
OSS 117 knows very little about Arab and
Muslim culture and has a truly colonial view of the world he is entering. With
Jack’s secretary, Larmina El Akmar Betouche (Berenice Bejo) as his only guide
and owner of a Chicken firm in Cairo as a cover, he must investigate Jack’s
death.
Along
the way he makes appalling errors in etiquette including enquiring “what stupid
religion would not allow you to drink alcohol” and stopping a call to prayer as
he just though the muezzin was “making noise”.
OSS
117 is sexy, suave and self contained, he never questions his judgement nor
that of his government, indeed he gives out pictures of President Rene Coty as
gifts to the locals ! The background of international politics makes this even
more amusing if you appreciate the social, economic and political humour
textured throughout the plot.
The
mixture of dry wit, James Bond spy adventure, a lounge music score and superb
cinematography makes this a highly enjoyable romp through the world of spies,
secrets and espionage !
This review will appear in Volume 2:1
(2009) of the digital and print edition of Synergy Magazine.
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