Les Visiteurs
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film industry |
| Founded | 1993 |
| Founder | Jean-Marie Poiré (director) |
| Products | Fantasy comedy film |
Les Visiteurs (; English: The Visitors) is a 1993 French fantasy comedy film helmed by director Jean-Marie Poiré. The movie features the comedic pairing of Christian Clavier and Jean Reno, with Valérie Lemercier in a prominent role. Additional performances include Marie-Anne Chazel, Christian Bujeau, and Isabelle Nanty. The narrative centers on a medieval knight from the 12th century and his squire who unexpectedly travel forward in time to the late 20th century, where they face challenges adapting to contemporary life.
Achieving the status of France’s top box office hit in 1993, the film grossed $98.8 million on a production budget of $9.5 million, positioning it among the nation’s highest earners. Its promotional slogan was Ils ne sont pas nés d'hier ("They weren't born yesterday"). At the 19th César Awards, it garnered eight nominations and won Best Supporting Actress for Valérie Lemercier. The movie’s popularity led to two sequels—The Visitors 2: The Corridors of Time and The Visitors: Bastille Day—completing a trilogy fully produced by Poiré. An English-language adaptation titled Just Visiting was also created. Filming took place at locations such as the castle of Ermenonville (standing in for Montmirail) and the medieval fortress Cité de Carcassonne.
Plot
In the year 1123, Count Godefroy de Montmirail serves as protector to King Louis VI ("the Fat") during a confidential rendezvous with the niece of the English king. After rescuing the monarch from an English assailant, Godefroy is promised marriage to Frénégonde de Pouilles, daughter of Duke Fulbert de Pouilles. While en route to the wedding, Godefroy’s entourage apprehends a witch destined for interrogation by the Inquisition.
Close to their castle, Frénégonde escapes her father’s pursuit; meanwhile, the captive witch covertly poisons Godefroy’s drink with a hallucinogenic substance. Under its influence, Godefroy mistakes Frénégonde’s father for a bear and fatally wounds the Duke with a crossbow bolt. Heartbroken, Frénégonde vows to enter a convent, rejecting marriage to Godefroy.
Jacquouille la Fripouille, Godefroy’s squire, pilfers a gold necklace belonging to the Duke concealed behind a statue’s head. Determined to rectify his error and secure his family legacy, Godefroy consults the sorcerer Eusæbius, who concocts a time-travel potion—though it lacks one crucial component. After consuming it alongside Jacquouille, they disappear only to reemerge in an unfamiliar forest in 1992.
Encountering modern inventions such as a Renault 4 postal van startles Jacquouille, who perceives these as threats. The pair create havoc by stealing food and meeting Ginette Sarcley, an eccentric homeless woman who interprets their medieval conduct as performance art.
Seeking shelter in a church, Godefroy is discovered by Béatrice de Montmirail, his contemporary descendant and aristocratic mother. Skeptical of his story, she contacts law enforcement; following a confrontation and Godefroy's subsequent detainment in a psychiatric hospital, Béatrice mistakenly identifies him as her missing cousin Hubert.
Jacquouille forms a bond with Ginette and persuades Béatrice to secure Godefroy’s release from the hospital. At Béatrice’s residence, they grapple with modern living while learning that their ancestral castle has been sold to Jacques-Henri Jacquart—a descendant of Jacquouille—who shows disdain toward them.
Attempting to reclaim his ancestral home, Godefroy offers to repurchase the castle but is rejected. Exploring subterranean tunnels beneath Béatrice’s house uncovers Eusæbius’s notes referring to Ferdinand Eusebius, a medium descendant capable of aiding their return to the past.
Meanwhile, Jacquouille contemplates remaining in 1992 after discovering toothpaste as "the cure against rot," much to Godefroy's frustration. After drugging Jacquart with sleeping pills and exchanging clothes with him, Godefroy inadvertently sends Jacquart back to 1123.
Béatrice ultimately accepts Godefroy’s true identity upon witnessing these extraordinary events firsthand. Returning just before firing his crossbow in his own time, Godefroy deflects the bolt away from Frénégonde’s father this time, preserving history and ensuring his marriage prospects. Meanwhile, Jacquart awakens bewildered among peasants and soldiers in medieval times.
Cast
- Christian Clavier: Portrays Jacquouille la Fripouille / Jacques-Henri Jacquard
- Jean Reno: Plays Godefroy de Montmirail, Count of Montmirail, Apremont, and Papincourt
- Valérie Lemercier: Acts as Frénégonde de Pouille / Béatrice de Montmirail
- Christian Bujeau: Cast as Jean-Pierre Goulard
- Marie-Anne Chazel: Portrays Ginette la Clocharde
- Isabelle Nanty: Plays Fabienne Morlot
- Gérard Séty: Acts as Edgar Bernay
- Didier Pain: Depicts Louis VI le Gros
- Jean-Paul Muel: Plays Maréchal-des-Logis Gibon
- Arielle Séménoff: Cast as Jacqueline
- Michel Peyrelon: Portrays Édouard Bernay
- Pierre Vial: Acts as Eusebius the Wizard / Monsieur Ferdinand
- François Lalande: Plays the priest
- Didier Bénureau: Depicts Doctor Beauvin
- Frédéric Baptiste: Cast as Freddy
Reception
Les Visiteurs debuted at the top spot in the French box office, generating 17.6 million French francs ($3.3 million) during its first week and maintaining that position for ten consecutive weeks. It reclaimed the number one rank for an additional seven weeks, ultimately becoming the highest-grossing French film of 1993 with ticket sales reaching 13.78 million and a total revenue of $78 million. Globally, it was the leading non-English language film in terms of box office earnings that year, accumulating $98.8 million. To date, Les Visiteurs stands among the most financially successful French films ever released.
Awards and nominations
- César Awards (France)
- Winner: Best Supporting Actress awarded to Valérie Lemercier
- Nominated for Best Actor – Leading Role (Christian Clavier)
- Nominated for Best Actor – Leading Role (Jean Reno)
- Nominated for Best Costume Design (Catherine Leterrier)
- Nominated for Best Director (Jean-Marie Poiré)
- Nominated for Best Editing (Catherine Kelber)
- Nominated for Best Film
- Nominated for Best Music (Eric Levi)
- Nominated for Best Original Screenplay or Adaptation (Christian Clavier and Jean-Marie Poiré)
Home media
The movie became available on video in France on 15 December 1993, following government approval due to its release occurring less than one year after its theatrical premiere.
Video game
A video game version of the film was developed by Planet Interactive Development and published by Ubisoft, launching in September 2000 exclusively for the Game Boy Color platform.
Sequels and remake
The series continued with a follow-up film, The Visitors II: The Corridors of Time released in 1998, alongside an American remake titled Just Visiting in 2001, which included members of the original cast. A subsequent sequel named The Visitors: Bastille Day was released in 2016.