Bonne Conduite, the crime comedy directed by Jonathan Barré, airs on TMC on Wednesday, October 14, 2026 at 9:25 p.m. The film stars Laure Calamy, David Marsais, Grégoire Ludig, Tchéky Karyo and Olivier Marchal.
Following a car accident, Pauline left her job as a psychologist to become a trainer at a license-points recovery center. But her training sessions mainly help her spot the most dangerous drivers, whom she then eliminates to prevent them from causing further accidents.
Two detectives leading the investigation, played by David Marsais and Grégoire Ludig, strive to understand the string of deaths that plagues the roads of Brittany. Jonathan Barré, director of the Palmashow sketches and films, thus crafts a narrative perched between comedy, crime thriller, and revenge cinema.
Our Take
This is a very special film! After two feature-length projects with the Palmashow that helped him refine his style, Jonathan Barré returns with a comedy that’s truly one of a kind. A comic thriller that borrows heavily from genre cinema, we can’t help but think of John Carpenter when watching Bonne Conduite, whether thanks to its masterful score that elevates the film, or to its car, which clearly nods to Christine.
The music even echoes Nicolas Winding Refn’s work.
But that’s not all: Bonne Conduite is above all a superb director’s film. It might be a light comedy, yet Barré treats his subject with real seriousness and crafts the visuals as carefully as any American blockbuster from a big-name studio. The young filmmaker’s influences are evident in every scene, but they never overload the narrative, which is clear and finely staged.
More importantly, it’s rare to see a comedy that pairs high-quality direction with strong character writing so well. Indeed, Barré cut his teeth with the Palmashow, so he knows better than anyone how to pinpoint a comic trope and give it an instant doorway to humor.
Among the cast are many familiar faces from Palmashow sketches (Thomas VDB, Sixtine Aupetit, Julien Pestel, David Salles and many others), but also Olivier Marchal; all these supporting roles are delicious. And amidst this gallery of characters stands the formidable Laure Calamy, who, in every role, asserts herself a little more as the greatest French actress of her generation, and of course David Marsais and Grégoire Ludig as a duo of inept cops, as ever hilariously funny.
In short, Bonne Conduite brings a refreshing wind to French cinema and makes for excellent publicity for road safety—what more could you ask for?
To go further, also check out our picks for films, series and shows to watch on TV this week, our guide to new releases across all platforms, and today’s selection What to watch today on streaming.
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