Zidi, Claude

(1934- )

   Director, producer, and screenwriter. Claude Zidi studied at the Louis Lumière School and later worked as a camera operator for Claude Chabrol. Although comedy is the most popular film genre in France, French comedies rarely receive the country's most prestigious awards. Zidi's police comedy Les Ripoux (1984), starring Philippe Noiret and Thierry Lhermitte, is one exception. It won Zidi César Awards for Best Film and Best Director. Although the sequel, Les ripoux contre Ripoux (1990), did not receive major awards, it, too, was a box-office success. To date, Zidi's Astérix et Obélix contre César (1999), derived from the famous French comic book series by Alberto Uderzo and Rene Goscinny, is the most expensive French film ever made. It features the French comedy star Christian Clavier and megastar Gérard Depardieu. The majority of Zidi's films are comedies. His only drama to date is Deux (1989). His first films were Les bidasses en folie (1971), Les fous du stade (1972), Le grand bazar (1973), Les bidasses s'en vont en guerre (1974), La Moutarde me monte au nez (1974), and La Course à l'échalote (1975). His L'Aile ou la cuisse (1976) pairs two of France's most celebrated comedians of their time, Louis de Funès and Coluche. It was followed by L'animal (1977), La Zizanie (1978), and Bête, mais discipliné (1979). Coluche reappeared in Inspecteur la Bavure (1980) and Banzaï (1983). In addition to the Les Ripoux and Les bidasses sequels, Zidi made the popular Les Sous-doués (1980) and its sequel, Les Sous-doués en vacances (1982). Both feature Daniel Auteuil. Noiret and Lhermitte were paired again for Ripoux 3. Zidi has also directed Les rois du gag (1985), Association de mal-faiteurs (1987), La Totale! (1991), Profil bas (1993), Arlette (1997), and La Boîte (2001).

   Historical Dictionary of French Cinema by Dayna Oscherwitz & Mary Ellen Higgins