LE GRAND ROLE aka THE GREAT ROLE

Year: 2004
USA: First Run Features
Cast: Stephane Freiss, Berenice Bejo, Peter Coyote, François Berleand, Stephan Guerin-Tillie, M Silberman, Mickaël Sabah, Clement Sibony, Lionel Abelanski, Olivier Sitruk, Laurent Bateau, Valerie Benguigui, Daniele Denie, Smadi Wolfman, Steve Suissa, Gerard Caillaud, Eric Naggar, Alice Carel, Laetitia Fourcade, Charlie Dupont, Lila Douro, Jacques Zajderman, Paula Levy, Kathy Heid, Pierre-Olivier Mornas, Guillaume Noiret, Lionel Nataf, Esther Gorintin, Madeleine Goldstein, Adriana Santini, Marie-Gaëlle Cals, Michel Laliberte, Abraham Leber, Clement Harari, Claire Chazal, Bruno Wolkowitch, Daniel Cohen
Director: Steve Suissa
Country: France
USA: 89 mins
USA Release Date: 6 May 2005 (Limited Release - New York)


Synopsis

Maurice (Stephane Freiss), Sami (Olivier Sitruk), Simon (Lionel Abelanski), Elie (Laurent Bateau) and Edouard (Stephan Guerin-Tillie) are still unknown actors despite their late thirties. But one day, Rudolph Grinchenberg (Peter Coyote), the famous American director, comes to Paris looking for the lead role in his Yiddish adaptation of the Merchant of Venice. Maurice gets the part!

It is the major breakthrough he has been waiting for. He rushes home to proudly announce the big news to his wife Perla (Berenice Bejo). But Perla also has news for him: she is very ill... Unfortunately, the part eventually goes to a famous American star. Maurice doesn't have the heart to tell Perla...

With his friends' help, he will go all the way to make his wife believe that he still has the part, and will end up playing the role of his life to protect her...