The comic art of Louis de Funès (1914-1983), like that of Totò and a few others, ultimately transcends the limits of the films in which he appeared, thanks to the dynamic expressivity of his persona. Drawing on contributions from critics, scholars and the actor’s colleagues, this documentary deciphers the keys to the de Funès phenomenon, intelligently analysing the peculiar characters of his facial and corporeal mimicry, the plasticity of his gestures, and the doubling of character and creator (in the sense that, once he became successful, ‘Fufu’ effectively became the author of the majority of his films, often limiting the director’s role).

Acteur comique préféré des Français, Louis de Funès a fait rire des générations de spectateurs avec son personnage de petit chef méchant, colérique et radin, aux mimiques si particulières. Le rire a été l'affaire de la vie au point que la star occupe une place prépondérante dans la fabrication de ses films. Comment le roi du box-office des années 1960-70 a-t-il inventé et peaufiné son double à l'écran ?