[Class Act Series Netflix Review]From a true story that is told entertainingly but embellished so much that it goes beyond reality.

Class Act Netflix 7-episode French series based on the true story of Bernard Tapie), a famous French billionaire and businessman who ventured into various businesses and even held political office before reaching a conclusion in prison.

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Class Act Series Netflix Review

A French series that people outside of France may not be familiar, because the series summarizes his life story quite succinctly. Right from the start, it’s made clear that it takes the framework of his life but embellishes and invents all the personal aspects and dialogues. This isn’t a biographical series but one that takes the life of a famous person and adds a lot of drama to it. This works well for viewers who are not directly acquainted with him because it allows the plot to flow smoothly with various over-the-top tricks. For example, the technique of purchasing a large battery factory in France with only 1 French Franc, or the art of staging scenes to deceive victims, resembling scenes from crime movies. There are also coincidences that lead to miraculous from various, to the point where it feels like having 9 lives like a cat. In terms of entertainment value, the storytelling is quite effective, but from the perspective of sticking to the real-life, it lacks a lot of credibility and can often feel conflicting.

 

But what the series does well is the portrayal of the protagonist, Tapie, played by Frank Molinaro . He bears a striking resemblance to the real-life Tapie and convincingly plays the role of the young man from the plumbing family with endless dreams. His dreams grow bigger and bigger, from being a singer, running an electronics store for club members, an emergency rescue driver, a publisher, the owner of a Adidas, a TV show host, and a football club owner. Each of these endeavors is not solely for monetary gain but has the intention of helping the French people find employment, as these businesses are all on the brink of financial collapse. He successfully accomplishes them and becomes an inspiration to many French people. He even dabbles in politics briefly, shedding light on the problems of French government, introducing new ideas that aren’t well-received, eventually leading to his quick exit. The actor’s performance is smooth, with intelligent dialogue delivery, quick thinking, and efficient actions, making him a charming and charismatic figure. Even when he tells a white lie now and then, viewers feel sympathetic and may consider it a white lie for a good cause (because after lying, he actually helps people a lot). Another significant character is his beautiful wife, Dominique Tapie, played by Joséphine Japy. Although her role may not be extensive, she is a constant presence in Tapie life, and her charm shines through as they navigate life together effectively.

The series tells the story of his success in 6 episodes before episode 7 delves into the period of downfall due to cheating in football, despite winning the European championship. This episode brings him back to face his actions. During this time, he had to have a solitary conversation with the prosecutor, which consisted of a continuous lasting almost half an hour, and it’s very intense. The creators intended it to feel like a real story, but it’s not entirely true. It’s the least enjoyable episode when there’s no excitement left in life to explore. However, it’s the final scene in his story, ending in prison, which reflects reality. The series chose to conclude here without exploring his many other real-life cases.

The real downside of this story lies in how it skips over most of the business management periods. Considering that he engaged in various business ventures, the series only shows him making acquisitions before jumping to the point of business recovery each time. This can be frustrating to watch because some of these businesses were left in significant debt, and it’s unclear how he managed them. However, the series portrays it as if he easily manages them all, which is quite frustrating. If there had been more insight into the business management aspects, it could have added more enjoyable and engaging storytelling.

 

Overall, this series, from a true story, is quite enjoyable and offers a glimpse into the adventurous life of Bernard Tapie. Even if you’re not French, you can still understand it. The cast is charming, But there is excessive embellishment added to the story, and skip real-life business management for the most part. This makes it feel overly fictionalized, which is somewhat regrettable.

 

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