Released in theaters on February 18, 2015, Bis is a comedy directed by Dominique Farrugia, co-written with Nans Delgado. The film features Franck Dubosc, Kad Merad, and Alexandra Lamy in a story that blends time travel with a nostalgic look back at the 1980s. Debuting at the Alpe d’Huez International Comedy Film Festival 2015, the feature film continues the tradition of beloved French comedies that mix nostalgia with buddy movie camaraderie.
Éric and Patrice have been friends since high school, but their paths as adults have taken very different turns. The first lives a carefree, hedonistic lifestyle, constantly chasing new conquests, while the second has settled down into a stable family life, stuck in a monotonous and predictable routine. An overly drunken night becomes an unexpected catalyst: the two men in their forties wake up to find themselves transported back to 1986, at the age of 17.
This flashback gives them a second chance to change their decisions and steer their lives in a different direction. Torn between the urge to fix past mistakes and the challenge of confronting their own immaturity, the film explores the uncomfortable gap between adult perspective and adolescent bodies, in a narrative that questions the fantasy of “what if I could do it all over again”—without sacrificing its comedic edge.
The premise echoes that of certain American comedies focused on time travel, such as Hot Tub Time Machine (2010), which already transported its characters back to 1986. Dominique Farrugia also draws visual inspiration from 1980s cinema, referencing Roman Polanski’s Frantic for some urban scenes and John Hughes’s films for the high school aesthetic. The aim was to strip down the modern streets to recreate a less consumer-driven, less digitally dominated era (source: production).
Several scenes were shot in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, the neighborhood where the director grew up, lending the project a personal, autobiographical touch. The iconic nightclub La Main Jaune, famously featured in La Boum, also served as a filming location. The script went through numerous rewrites—nearly twenty versions, according to Farrugia—before settling on the final version. Initially, actors Guillaume Canet and Gilles Lellouche were considered for key roles, but in the end, the filmmakers opted for the comedic duo Kad Merad and Franck Dubosc.
The two actors approached their roles with distinct methods: Kad Merad favored brainstorming sessions with the director beforehand, while Franck Dubosc wanted to fine-tune specific aspects of his character. Alexandra Lamy joins the main cast, providing a contrasting female presence to this male friendship tested by the passage of time.
Bis
Film | 2015
Released in theaters: February 18, 2015
Aired on M6 on February 27, 2026 at 9:10 PM
Comedy | Duration: 1h47
Directed by Dominique Farrugia | Starring Franck Dubosc, Kad Merad, Alexandra Lamy
Original title: Bis
Country: France
Through its 1986 flashback structure, Bis weaves a blend of situational comedy, nostalgic pop culture references, and light-hearted reflections on life choices. The film fits into the tradition of coming-of-age stories that mine the memories of the 1980s as a fertile ground for storytelling—treading the fine line between yearning to rewrite the past and embracing the present.
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Dates and Opening Time
On February 27, 2026
