David Farnor | On 06, Sep 2016

Walk This Way has lined up a new collection of comedies to stream across Europe, from talent including Daniel Auteuil, Michel Hazanavicius, Charlotte Le Bon and Mika Kaurismäki.

The scheme, which is supported by the European Commission, gathers together and promotes films for straight-to-VOD distribution in the European Union. Each film is available in an average of eight countries on VOD platforms including iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Instant Video, Sony and Xbox. The latest batch landed this week, selecting some of the funniest mainstream films of recent years from across the continent – just the thing to alleviate those back-to-work blues.

Entre Amis

Entre Amis, French comedian Olivier Baroux, portrays the friendship between 60-year-olds Richard, Gilles and Philippe, who are put to the test on a cruise to Corsica with their partners – the bad weather and the problems each couple has bring some truths to light in a whirlwind of jealousy, laughs, grief and confessions. A well-scripted crowd-pleaser spearheaded by Daniel Auteuil that is available in Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

Paris or Perish

Paris or Perish, by director and actress Reem Kherici, which follows a young woman (the director) with a life that most dream of: she is pretty, smart, wealthy, and has a great job. But one night, after an unexpected problem, she is deported back to her native country, Morocco, where she desperately tries to find a way out, even if it means re-connecting with her family, which she avoided for many years. A feel-good film that tackles the subject of immigration, Paris or Perish is available in the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

Jacky in the Kingdom of Women

Another interesting topic is tackled in Jacky in the Kingdom of Women, by French filmmaker Riad Sattouf. A Monty Python-esque success, the film is a satirical and burlesque fantasy that depicts a matriarchal society, one in which women have the power while men wear veils and do domestic chores. Jacky, a lovely young man who dreams of marrying the Colonelle, must struggle like Cinderella to realise his dreams. Vincent Lacoste, Charlotte Gainsbourg, and renowned actor-directors Michel Hazanavicius and Noémie Lvovsky have roles in the film, which is available in Denmark, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

Nice and Easy

A French take on slacker comedies? Look no further than Nice and Easy, directed by Benjamin Guedj, in which a young lazy man has only one ambition in life: to do nothing, seeing everything from his couch and not living his life but contemplating it. His struggle to keep his lifestyle, against his two roommates who hold down internships and odd jobs, is the basis for the film, which stars Felix Moati and Charlotte Le Bon. The comedy is available in Austria, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

Lost in Siberia

Not every comedy comes from France however, and Lost in Siberia by German filmmaker Ralf Huettner is proof of this. The film is about a shy logistician at a German mail order company who is send to Kemerovo in Siberia by his boss to implement a German workflow system in a Russian subsidiary company. A bittersweet comedy about finding oneself in a (very) faraway place, which is available in Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

Road North

Nordic humour is also something to cherish: Finnish title Road North, by veteran filmmaker Mika Kaurismäki, is a bittersweet story about fatherhood. In it, a father who has been absent for 30 years of his son’s life returns and tries to bond with him, on a road trip to the north. Starring Vesa-Matti Loiri (the Finnish Gérard Dépardieu), the film is a must-see for fans of Scandi humour, and is available in Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Portugal, and the United Kingdom.

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