Land of Milk and Honey (Pays de cocagne). Pierre Étaix, 1971.
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Edition screened: Included in Criterion 2-Blu-ray set # 655 Pierre Étaix, released 2013. French language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 76 minutes.
Edition screened: Included in Criterion 2-Blu-ray set # 655 Pierre Étaix, released 2013. French language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 76 minutes.
Summary: No particular depictions of violence toward animals.
This last film by Étaix is difficult to sit through. All the charming wit of the early films has been swept away in this hostile rehash of the themes from 1966’s As Long as You've Got Your Health. Etaix recycles the structural glue of vacation campsite abominations from Feeling Good to string together unflattering snippets of French folks’ fat asses, horrible singing, inarticulate pontifications, and general poor taste. My viewing of Land of Milk and Honey caused recall of two other films. First, and in unflattering contrast, Agnès Varda’s captivating 1958 documentary about Riviera vacationers, Du Côté de la Côte, overflowing with visual wit and beautiful cinematography. Second, and in unflattering similarity, Stanley Kramer’s 1963 tribute to toe-tagged comedians It’s a Tedious, Plodding, Tiresome, Can We Please Turn This Off World, overflowing with failed humor and embarrassing death rattles.