“In Place”: Jean-Pascal Zadi, a presidential candidate on Netflix

Soukaina Sghir
Soukaina Sghir
2 Min Read

An educator denounces the hypocrisy of an elected official, makes the buzz, and finds himself propelled candidate for the French presidential election: in “En Place” on Netflix, Jean-Pascal Zadi makes fun of French politics and imagines himself as the first black candidate about to enter the Elysée.

On paper, this comedy series is furiously reminiscent of “Servant of the People”, the hit series featuring Volodymyr Zelensky, an honest but naïve history teacher who coincidentally becomes President of Ukraine – before reality catches up with fiction and the actor actually becomes head of state.

“I didn’t even know this series existed when I made ‘En Place’!”, posted on Netflix on Friday, assures Ivorian-born filmmaker Jean-Pascal Zadi, who wrote and directed it.

Zadi plays Stéphane Blé, an educator from Bobigny whose clash with the left-wing mayor and presidential candidate (Benoît Poelvoorde) is going viral. One thing leads to another, and Blé decides to submit his candidacy too.

Playing candidly in a political world in which he has no code, Jean-Pascal Zadi is overseen by a lawless eminence grise, played by Eric Judor. Also in the credits, the comedians Fary and Fadily Camara, or even Marina Foïs, with a character very inspired by the EELV deputy Sandrine Rousseau.

Maryam Lahbal

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