Zig Zag Story

In Zig Zag Story, three very different Parisians keep crossing paths and making each other's lives more chaotic than before. A painter who struggles with color perception, a radio host juggling on-air persona and private life, and a photographer whose behavior frequently crosses social lines form a loose triangle of awkward encounters and mishaps. Their interactions start small, with missed signals and petty rivalries, then escalate as misunderstandings pile up and personal boundaries blur. The tone shifts between dry humor and darker awkwardness, and the film moves through episodic scenes rather than a single linear arc, leaving character choices to drive the mood more than a clear plotline.

Directed by Patrick Schulmann and released in 1983, the film is a French production that features Fabrice Luchini as Bob Hemler, Diane Bellego as Catherine, and Christian François as Gil Darmon, with Philippe Khorsand and Ronny Coutteure in supporting roles.

Critical reception was mixed to negative, reflected in a low average rating from a small number of voters, 3.75 out of 10. Reviewers tended to note uneven pacing and a sense that the film's humor didn't always land, while some appreciated the willingness to show flawed characters without smoothing their edges. Major reviewers at the time did not elevate the film to mainstream success.

Zig Zag Story never became a household title outside niche circles, but it does show an early screen appearance by Fabrice Luchini, who would later gain wider recognition. There are a few scenes that fans of offbeat 1980s French cinema point to as emblematic of the era's taste for awkward, character-driven comedy.

There are no records of major international awards or high-profile festival prizes attached to the film, and it did not make a significant awards run. Any recognition tends to come from retrospective interest or from followers of the cast rather than from formal honors.