Permis de détruire hits French cinemas on July 1, 2026. Directed by Éric Fraticelli, this French comedy teams up Kad Merad, Patrick Timsit and Éric Fraticelli for a tale set in Corsica, where the lure of a fresh start collides with local life and resistance to a power plant.
A Permit to Destroy Film | 2026
In theaters: July 1, 2026
Comedy | Running time: 1h37
Directed by Éric Fraticelli | Starring Kad Merad, Patrick Timsit, Éric Fraticelli, Claude Perron, Marie-Pierre Nouveau, Philippe Corti
Nationality: France
In Permis de détruire, Dominique pursues his Corsican dream, even as his medical clinic is still under construction and he fights a controversial power plant. The arrival of Olivier, his friend and psychoanalyst in the midst of a divorce, complicates this plan for a new life on the island.
With a hand from Santu, their Corsican friend, the two “pinzuti,” a Corsican nickname for mainland French, set out to find their footing in island life. The film sits squarely in the comedy genre, centering a tale of cultural gaps, thwarted friendships, and the challenges of fitting in.
The trailer confirms the island setting and the pairing of Kad Merad and Patrick Timsit, joined by Éric Fraticelli. It spotlights a comedy rooted in the tensions between mainlanders and the island’s residents, set against the backdrop of a controversial local project.
The official trailer for Permis de détruire sets the tone for this Corsican comedy, with local feuds, a strained friendship, and a culture clash between mainlanders and islanders.
Eric Fraticelli returns to territory he’s already mined with Permis de construire, also set in Corsica. Permis de détruire isn’t pitched as a mere retread; the title, the setting, and the director-actor’s involvement carry on the same vein of island comedy rooted in the dynamics between Corsicans and mainlanders.
The film may appeal to viewers seeking a French comedy set in Corsica, starring Kad Merad and Patrick Timsit as they contend with a tightly codified local world. It’s less aimed at those looking for a romantic comedy or an urban-focused story.
To extend the in-theater experience, check out the July cinema releases, the films to watch right now, and our selection of French films to see in cinemas.
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