Synopsis
In 1942, in an occupied Paris, the apolitical grocer Edmond Batignole lives with his wife and daughter in a small apartment in the building of his grocery. When his future son-in-law and collaborator of the German Pierre-Jean Lamour calls the Nazis to arrest the Jewish Bernstein family, they move to the confiscated apartment. Some days later, the young Simon Bernstein escapes from the Germans and comes to his former home. When Batignole finds him, he feels sorry for the boy and lodges him, hiding Simon from Pierre-Jean and also from his wife. Later, two cousins of Simon meet him in the cellar of the grocery. When Pierre-Jean finds the children, Batignole decides to travel with the children to Switzerland.
Monsieur Batignole (2002) is a 1h 40min comedy feature film by Gérard Jugnot. In 1942, in an occupied Paris, the apolitical grocer Edmond Batignole lives with his wife and daughter in a small apa...
Key facts
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Festival History
- César Awards 2003 generic
- Locarno International Film Festival 2002 generic
Titles
| Original title | Monsieur Batignole | French |
| Alternate title | On pouvait pas savoir... |
Soundtracks
| CD | Monsieur Batignole (2002) | 1 release, 2002: Night & Day |
Releases & classifications
| Theatrical | Belgium | March 6, 2002 |
| Theatrical | Switzerland | March 6, 2002 |
| Theatrical | France | March 6, 2002 |
| Theatrical | Canada | September 20, 2002 |
| Theatrical | Italy | October 4, 2002 |
| Theatrical | Portugal | October 25, 2002 |
| Theatrical | United States | October 30, 2002 |
| Theatrical | Japan | January 11, 2003 |
| Theatrical | Israel | April 24, 2003 |
| Theatrical | Australia | June 26, 2003 |
| Theatrical | Mexico | September 5, 2003 |
| Television | Norway | April 21, 2004 |
| Television | Hungary | September 28, 2004 |
| Theatrical | Spain | April 29, 2005 |
| Theatrical | Brazil | June 10, 2005 |
| Television | Finland | December 9, 2005 |
| Television | Sweden | May 12, 2007 |
| Television | France | February 25, 2026 |
Versions & editions
| Original version (French) |
Full credits
| Director | Gérard Jugnot |
| Cast | Gérard Jugnot, Jules Sitruk (Simon Bernstein), Michèle Garcia (Marguerite Batignole), Jean-Paul Rouve (Pierre-Jean Lamour), Alexia Portal (Micheline Batignole), Violette Blanckaert (Sarah Cohen), Daphné Baiwir (Guila Cohen), Götz Burger (SS Col. Spreich), Élisabeth Commelin (Irène), Hubert Saint-Macary (Gendarmerie lieutenant), Daniel Martin (Brigadier Albert), Nadine Spinoza (Rachel Bernstein), Damien Jouillerot (Martin), Philippe du Janerand (René, administrator), Marie-Gaëlle Cals (Edwige), Flannan Obé (Paul), Karine Pinoteau (Nurse on the train), Didier Lafaye (Village informant), Christophe Rouzaud (Village priest), Sylvie Herbert (Cohens' concierge in Montmartre), Roland Marchisio (Deposit keeper), Arthur Jugnot (Arthur), Eric Civanyan (Gallery owner), Michel Dodane (Neighbor on the train), Karina Marimon (Neighbor on the train), Ticky Holgado (Lucien Morel), Sam Karmann (Max Bernstein), Jean-Marie Winling (Sacha Guitry), Yves Lavandier (Léon Batignole), Till Bahlmann (Soldier at the Station (uncredited)), Ursula Deuker (Secretary of Spreich (uncredited)), Thierry Heckendorn (Commissioner (uncredited)), Marie-Hélène Lentini (Mrs. Taillepied (uncredited)), Eric Moreau (Server (uncredited)), Wolfgang Pissors (Suspicious SS soldier (uncredited)), Jörg Schnass (SS soldier (uncredited)), Michel Scourneau ((uncredited)) |
| Screenplay | Gérard Jugnot, Philippe Lopes-Curval |
| Producer | Dominique Farrugia, Gérard Jugnot, Olivier Granier |
| Cinematography | Gérard Simon |
| Editing | Catherine Kelber |
| Music | Khalil Chahine |
| Production design | Jean-Louis Povéda |
| Visual effects | Rodolphe Chabrier |
| Sound | Michel Kharat |
| Costumes | Annie Thiellement, Martine Rapin |
Additional data: TMDB.
Source: Cinémathèque québécoise, linked catalogue data (CC BY 4.0)
