Original title: En pleine forme
Directed by Pierre Étaix, Feeling Good is a short film that was originally intended to be a sequence within his documentary feature Land of Milk and Honey. However, its distinct narrative style and focused slapstick energy led to it being released as a standalone short. It serves as a sharp, comedic critique of the “back to nature” movement and the commercialisation of leisure.
The Synopsis
The film follows a young man (Pierre Étaix) who, exhausted by the noise and congestion of the city, decides to spend a peaceful night camping in the French countryside. He seeks the simple life—fresh air, quietude, and a return to the basics of human existence.
However, his quest for tranquility is immediately sabotaged by the reality of modern outdoor recreation. Every attempt to set up his campsite becomes a battle against uncooperative equipment and the bizarre, intrusive behaviour of fellow “nature lovers.” Instead of the serene escape he envisioned, he finds himself trapped in a crowded, noisy, and overly regulated environment that is just as stressful as the city he left behind. Through a series of perfectly timed visual gags, the film explores the absurdity of trying to find “freedom” in a world where even the wilderness has been packaged for mass consumption.
Cast & Crew
| Role | Name |
| Director | Pierre Étaix |
| The Camper | Pierre Étaix |
| Collaborator | Jean-Claude Carrière |
Production Notes
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A “Lost” Film Rediscovered: For decades, this film was largely inaccessible along with the rest of the Étaix catalogue. Its restoration in 2010 revealed it to be one of his most biting satires, effectively bridging the gap between his silent-style comedy and his more cynical documentary work.
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The Tati Connection: The film shares a thematic kinship with Jacques Tati’s Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday, but with a more modern, slightly more weary edge reflecting the post-1968 disillusionment in France.
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Physical Mastery: As always, Étaix uses his background as a circus clown to perform intricate physical comedy. The struggle with a simple tent becomes a choreographed dance of frustration that showcases his incredible body control.
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Social Commentary: While it is a comedy, the film acts as a precursor to Land of Milk and Honey, using the absurdity of the camping experience to question whether “feeling good” is even possible in an increasingly cluttered and commercialised society.
