Chez Jeannine - the Fabulous Bistro
France | 76 min | Doc | Pierrick Bourgault | with english subtitles | release 13 octobre 2025
Special Jury Prize at the “Silence, ça touille” Festival (Locronan)
Short version : A tender portrait of Jeannine, a rebellious 80-year-old bistro owner whose sharp humor and big heart turn her café into a sanctuary for life’s outcasts. Shot immersively with a pocket camera, this zero-budget film celebrates community, resilience, and the fading magic of neighborhood bistros.
Chez Jeannine - the Fabulous Bistro is a heartwarming, humorous documentary that captures the unique bond between a spirited bistro owner and her eclectic clientele. With her sharp wit and unforgettable one-liners, Jeannine, a strong-willed yet fragile great-grandmother, transforms her small café into a sanctuary of laughter, song, and confessions. Filmed with intimacy and authenticity, this feature is a love letter to the disappearing world of neighborhood bistros, celebrating their humanity, freedom, and the extraordinary people who
keep them alive. Shot on a shoestring budget with a pocket camera, director Pierrick Bourgault (author of 20 books on cafés) delivers a zero-carbon, immersive experience that feels both timeless and
urgently relevant.
Trailer with english subtitles
https://vimeo.com/1171725103
Audience reactions
“A moving immersion in a place where people laugh, sing, confide, and cry.” — Elisabeth
“Gruff on the outside, but with a heart big enough to embrace everyone. Jeannine’s bistro is an oasis for life’s wounded souls.” — Philippe
“A subversive, beautifully crafted film. The drawings add a touch of humor, like Reiser’s cartoons.” — Philippe
“A funny film about death!” — Frédéric
“A poignant tribute to the extraordinary Mother Lapipe. The musical moments are pure joy.” — Laurence
“We all dream of a place where we can walk in and say, ‘the usual.’” — Hervé
Why this film ?
Universal themes: Community, aging, resilience, and the power of human connection.
Unique voice: A rare, authentic portrait of France, blending humor and melancholy.
Low-carbon, high-heart: Proof that compelling cinema can be made with love, not money.
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