Boudu Sauvé des Eaux (Boudu Saved From Drowning)

One of my favorite Jean Renoir films, "Boudu sauvé des eaux"  (Boudu Saved from Drowning) is a funny and subversive film that challenges the morale and conventions of it's time predating Renoir's ultimate masterpiece "La Règle du jeu" (The Rules of the Game). 

This film is more simple and tame than told through the eyes of the wandering tramp Priape Boudu (Michel Simon), he tries to kill himself by jumping in the river Seine after losing his dog but is rescued by bookstore owner Edouard Lestingois (Charles Granval). 

He is hailed as a hero and tries to do more for Boudu by providing him home, food and shelter. Boudu however proves to be ungrateful and disrupts Edouard's home and private life, his young maid/mistress Anne-Marie Chloe (Sévérine Lerczinska) is constantly harassed by Boudu reducing their chances of nightly trysts. Edouard's wife Emma who has tried to kick Boudu out of the house since the first time they met is instead seduced by the anarchic Boudu after shaving part of his facial hair.

 "Go out without your shoes shined?! Are you nuts?!"

Renoir the genius has made an entertaining film not taking itself too seriously while cleverly poking fun at the bourgeois, his deep focus shots and different transition from one mood to another makes Boudu a timeless film to watch even with it's obvious era and setting. 

Simon was also key and was able to effortlessly portray the sleazy but lovable Boudu, he was able to seduce everyone and even had the guts to leave them in the end without showing any concern or thought. This is also what made the film wonderful because Renoir did not follow what was expected, Boudu even though winning the lottery and eventually winning the heart of the maid he's worked so hard to seduce decides to leave after just getting married and goes back to becoming a tramp. Never was a film more subversive even to the end and that's Renoir showing us that people like Boudu no matter what we do for them really does not care.

This is the brilliance of Renoir also making the most of the small cast and setting while focusing on what's really important in the film. Seducing the audience while appearing not to while using his own french version of The Tramp.  

Grade: A+