Chinese in Paris

Chinese in Paris (original title: Les Chinois à Paris) is a 1974 French-Italian comedy directed by Jean Yanne, who co-wrote the screenplay with Gérard Sire and Robert Beauvais. Its story imagines that Western Europe has been overrun by China and follows how ordinary Parisians get on with their lives once the capital comes under communist Chinese control. Through this deliberately far-fetched setup, Yanne lampoons the intellectual trends of his day, particularly the vogue for Maoism among French circles. Yanne also acts in the picture alongside a cast featuring Michel Serrault, Georges Wilson and Michel Charrel. Produced by Ciné qua non and running roughly 109 minutes, the French-language production blends absurd humor with pointed political mockery and is remembered as one of the bolder satires of 1970s French cinema.