Quarter to Two Before Jesus Christ

Set in a whimsically anachronistic version of ancient Rome, the film follows a humble chariot crew member who finds himself caught up in a farcical attempt to topple Caesar. Rahatlocum, a North African Roman outpost turned comic microcosm, is portrayed as a place where luxury and appetite sit side by side with hustle and gossip. The everyday people, tired of pomp and pretension, latch onto a would-be leader who rises from among them in a string of missteps and showy bravado. The story uses rapid-fire dialogue, visual gags, and sly references to famous Rome era myths to lampoon political theater and the fragility of power, all while keeping the mood buoyant and irreverent today.

Directed by Jean Yanne and released in 1982, this French comedy features Coluche as Ben-Hur Marcel and Michel Serrault as Jules Caesar with Françoise Fabian and Jean Yanne in supporting turns. Source material not listed.

Box office details are not readily available globally for Quarter to Two Before Jesus Christ, reflecting its status as a lesser known 1980s French comedy. The absence of widely reported grosses leaves the film outside the major commercial benchmarks today.

Cultural Impact: The film leans on a satirical look at power and pop culture, trading grandiose myths for punchy one liners and visual gags. While not a household title, it stays in the conversation of early 80s French political humor thanks to its cast.

Reception & Themes: The humor hinges on a playful clash of social classes and exaggerated political theater, with Coluche and Serrault delivering energy and timing that keep the pace brisk. The movie toys with legends and authority while inviting audiences to laugh at the absurdity of ambition, inviting curious viewers to revisit a certain era with a cheeky grin.