The Good Star: Benoît Poelvoorde stars in Pascal Elbé's comedy on Canal+

An anti-Semitic deserter who decides to pose as Jewish in order to escape Occupied France: this is the premise of La Bonne étoile, dramedy directed by Pascal Elbé. Released in cinemas in November 2025, the film led by Benoît Poelvoorde, Audrey Lamy and Zabou Breitman is airing on Canal+ on Wednesday, August 19, 2026 at 9:06 PM.

In 1940, Jean Chevalin is scraping by with his wife Paulette and their children. A deserter from the French army, he finds himself cornered by poverty and by the choices he has made. Convinced that Jews receive special aid to leave the occupied zone, he hatches a plan as reckless as it is dangerous: to pass his family off as Jewish in order to tap into behind-the-scenes help from smugglers and reach the Free Zone.

The imposture sends the Chevalin on a journey where slapstick moments collide with the harsh realities of the Occupation and the persecution. The plot hinges on this very mismatch: Jean begins his journey with his prejudices and opportunism, only to be confronted directly with what those whose identity he has stolen are enduring.

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Benoît Poelvoorde shines as this lazy, resourceful anti-hero, while Audrey Lamy embodies Paulette, his wife. Zabou Breitman rounds out the main trio in the role of Miss, an aristocrat whose character draws on the women who joined the Resistance. Pascal Elbé also appears on screen.

With La Bonne étoile, Pascal Elbé chooses to explore cowardice, anti-Semitism, solidarity, and the potential for awakening through comedy. The filmmaker advocates a directing approach that puts the characters and the narrative first, adopting a tone that draws on Italian comedy and on how some Billy Wilder films fuse humor with moral reflection.

The film was shot in the summer of 2024 across several towns in the Grand Est region. Before its nationwide release, it was part of the official selection at the Angoulême Francophone Film Festival 2025. It then hit French cinemas on November 12, 2025.

To go further, also check out our selection of films, series and shows to watch on TV this week, our guide to new releases on all platforms, and today’s Pick: What to watch today on streaming.

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