Un bon patron with Didier Bourdon: everything to know about this French remake

The corporate world is about to be shaken up on the big screen. Didier Bourdon returns in Un bon patron, a dark and biting comedy exploring the cascading woes of a CEO on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Directed by Philippe de Chauveron, the story follows Antoine Blanchet, heir to a traditional family business, who faces a series of disasters right before receiving an excellence award.

With a protesting former employee camping outside, a distracted foreman, and a captivating intern, the patriarch tries to save his world using authoritarian methods. This cynical look at corporate life offers Didier Bourdon a sharp new acting register, reminiscent of characters from his legendary comedy sketch days.

This feature film is the official French adaptation of a massive 2021 Spanish hit: El Buen Patrón, written and directed by Fernando León de Aranoa and starring Javier Bardem. The original movie dominated the 2022 Goya Awards with six wins, including Best Film, Best Director, and Best Actor.

For this adaptation, Philippe de Chauveron and co-writer Guy Laurent tailored the narrative to fit French corporate dynamics. Four years after the box-office success of his previous trilogy, the filmmaker investigates social and familial friction once again. Co-starring Catherine Frot and Jean-François Cayrey, the movie also marks a long-awaited onscreen reunion for Bourdon and Frot.