Vive la France

2013 French film

31 October 2013 (2013-10-31)

Running time

94 minutesCountryFranceLanguageFrenchBudget$17.5 million ^[1]Box office$10 million ^[2]

Vive la France is a 2013 French comedy film directed by Michaël Youn.

Plot

Taboulistan is a tiny fictional country in Central Asia, supposedly wedged between Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, virtually unknown to the world. Its only asset is a reputation for inventing tabbouleh. Alas, the Lebanese have stolen the recipe that their country is famous for. So, two half-brother Taboulistani shepherds are sent to France by their president to promote their country. Their method: "terrorist advertising". They seek to destroy the Eiffel Tower using a plane. Following a strike at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport, they land in Corsica. They meet with Corsican nationalists and board a boat for Marseille. Unfortunately, one of them is the victim of an attack because he was wearing a PSG shirt, followed by a medical error. Unaware of their true motives a journalist helps them to go to Paris in order to correct the error. Enroute they meet many hospitable people and overcome obstacles filled with high jinks. Once in Paris neither of the brothers can go through with the plan, but unbeknownst to them the Taboulistani government has sent a back-up crew. Luckily the brothers recognize them and foil their plan, becoming international heroes in the process and ironically bringing fame to Taboulistan.