OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies
Encyclopedia
OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies (OSS 117: Le Caire nid d'espions, 2006) is a French film directed by Michel Hazanavicius. It is a parody of the spy film
genre. The film follows the exploits of a French secret agent, OSS 117
, in Cairo in 1955.
agent, Jack Jefferson, and a Soviet cargo ship in Cairo. Agent OSS 117 is sent to investigate the events, since he and agent Jefferson share a history, shown in a short opening sequence and in flashbacks throughout the film. OSS 117 stumbles into a web of international intrigue, that involves the French, the Soviets, the British, separate factions of Egyptians, a goofy Belgian
spy and even a splinter group of the Nazis
from the beginning.
Throughout the film the main character has two main romantic interests. The first is an Egyptian princess Al Tarouk, who can't resist the charms of OSS 117. The second is the former assistant of Jack Jefferson, Larmina El Akmar Betouche, who at first shows no interest in the main character, but warms up to him in the end.
, a prolific French popular writer. However, instead of taking the genre seriously, the film parodies the original series and other conventional spy and Eurospy films, most noticeably the early James Bond
series right down to the cinematography, art direction and costume of the 1960s. For example, driving scenes are all filmed with obvious rear projection and camera movements are simple, and avoid the three-dimensional Steadycam and crane movements that are easily accomplished today.
The main character in the OSS 117 series is a secret agent of the Office of Strategic Services
, Hubert Bonisseur de La Bath, also known by his code name OSS 117. The character is played by French comedian Jean Dujardin
. The film's sequel is OSS 117: Lost in Rio.
and the Tokyo Grand Prix award given to the best film at the Tokyo International Film Festival
in 2006. It was relatively successful at the box office in France, with an attendance figure of over 2 million. Due to the film's performance, a 2009 sequel has been made titled OSS 117: Lost in Rio.
Critics outside France gave the film positive to average reviews. As of May 9, 2008, the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes
reported that 73% of critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 11 reviews. Metacritic
reported the film had an average score of 60 out of 100, based on 8 reviews. In the UK, The Guardian
's Peter Bradshaw gave the film particular praise, citing a "far higher comedy-factor than the dull Get Smart
, and the most lovingly detailed period pastiche since Todd Haynes's Far from Heaven
."
Spy film
The spy film genre deals with the subject of fictional espionage, either in a realistic way or as a basis for fantasy . Many novels in the spy fiction genre have been adapted as films, including works by John Buchan, John Le Carré, Ian Fleming and Len Deighton...
genre. The film follows the exploits of a French secret agent, OSS 117
OSS 117
OSS 117 is the codename for Hubert Bonisseur de La Bath, a fictional secret agent initially from the pen of the prolific Jean Bruce. Hubert Bonisseur de La Bath is described as being an American Colonel from Louisiana of French descent...
, in Cairo in 1955.
Plot
The main plot starts with the disappearances of an OSSOffice of Strategic Services
The Office of Strategic Services was a United States intelligence agency formed during World War II. It was the wartime intelligence agency, and it was a predecessor of the Central Intelligence Agency...
agent, Jack Jefferson, and a Soviet cargo ship in Cairo. Agent OSS 117 is sent to investigate the events, since he and agent Jefferson share a history, shown in a short opening sequence and in flashbacks throughout the film. OSS 117 stumbles into a web of international intrigue, that involves the French, the Soviets, the British, separate factions of Egyptians, a goofy Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
spy and even a splinter group of the Nazis
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
from the beginning.
Throughout the film the main character has two main romantic interests. The first is an Egyptian princess Al Tarouk, who can't resist the charms of OSS 117. The second is the former assistant of Jack Jefferson, Larmina El Akmar Betouche, who at first shows no interest in the main character, but warms up to him in the end.
Background
The film is a continuation of the OSS 117 series of spy films from the 1950s and 1960s, which were in turn based on a series of novels by Jean BruceJean Bruce
Jean Bruce born Jean Brochet on 22 March 1921 was a prolific French popular writer who died in 26 March 1963 in a car accident. He also wrote under the pseudonyms of Jean Alexandre, Jean Alexandre Brochet, Jean-Martin Rouan, and Joyce Lindsay....
, a prolific French popular writer. However, instead of taking the genre seriously, the film parodies the original series and other conventional spy and Eurospy films, most noticeably the early James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
series right down to the cinematography, art direction and costume of the 1960s. For example, driving scenes are all filmed with obvious rear projection and camera movements are simple, and avoid the three-dimensional Steadycam and crane movements that are easily accomplished today.
The main character in the OSS 117 series is a secret agent of the Office of Strategic Services
Office of Strategic Services
The Office of Strategic Services was a United States intelligence agency formed during World War II. It was the wartime intelligence agency, and it was a predecessor of the Central Intelligence Agency...
, Hubert Bonisseur de La Bath, also known by his code name OSS 117. The character is played by French comedian Jean Dujardin
Jean Dujardin
-Life and career:Dujardin was born in Rueil-Malmaison. Dujardin first became famous on the French talent show Graines de star in 1996 as part of the comedy group Nous C Nous, formed by members of the Carré blanc theater. From 1999 to 2003 he starred in the French version of the comedy television...
. The film's sequel is OSS 117: Lost in Rio.
Main cast
- Jean DujardinJean Dujardin-Life and career:Dujardin was born in Rueil-Malmaison. Dujardin first became famous on the French talent show Graines de star in 1996 as part of the comedy group Nous C Nous, formed by members of the Carré blanc theater. From 1999 to 2003 he starred in the French version of the comedy television...
as Hubert Bonisseur de La Bath, alias OSS 117 - Bérénice BejoBérénice BejoBérénice Bejo is a French actress, known for her role of Christiana in the 2001 film, A Knight's Tale.Bejo was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina to Argentine filmmaker Miguel Bejo. At age 3, she moved to France where she started her acting career...
as Larmina El Akmar Betouche - Aure AtikaAure AtikaAure Atika is a French actress, writer and director. Born in Portugal to a Moroccan mother and a French father, Aure Atika grew up in Paris. She was born to Ode Atika Bitton and Michel Fournier who are also film actors and directors...
as Princess Al Tarouk - Philippe Lefebvre as Jack Jefferson
- Said Amadis
Reception
The film won the Golden Space Needle award as the most popular film of the Seattle International Film FestivalSeattle International Film Festival
The Seattle International Film Festival , held annually in Seattle, Washington since 1976, is among the top film festivals in North America. Audiences have grown steadily; the 2006 festival had 160,000 attendees...
and the Tokyo Grand Prix award given to the best film at the Tokyo International Film Festival
Tokyo International Film Festival
Tokyo International Film Festival is a film festival established in 1985. The event was held biannually from 1985 to 1991 and annually thereafter...
in 2006. It was relatively successful at the box office in France, with an attendance figure of over 2 million. Due to the film's performance, a 2009 sequel has been made titled OSS 117: Lost in Rio.
Critics outside France gave the film positive to average reviews. As of May 9, 2008, the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
reported that 73% of critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 11 reviews. Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
reported the film had an average score of 60 out of 100, based on 8 reviews. In the UK, The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
's Peter Bradshaw gave the film particular praise, citing a "far higher comedy-factor than the dull Get Smart
Get Smart (film)
Get Smart is a 2008 American spy-fi comedy film based on Mel Brooks and Buck Henry's 1960s spy parody television series of the same name. The film stars Steve Carell as Maxwell Smart and Anne Hathaway as Agent 99...
, and the most lovingly detailed period pastiche since Todd Haynes's Far from Heaven
Far from Heaven
Far from Heaven is a 2002 drama film written and directed by Todd Haynes and starring Julianne Moore, Dennis Quaid, Dennis Haysbert, and Patricia Clarkson....
."