As in “Le Grand Bain”, 10 films with men who feel good in their underwear

While Gilles Lellouche immerses a group of apprentice swimmers in his “Grand Bain”, a small parade of the most beautiful swimsuits worn on the screen… From the Christian loincloth of Monty Python to the very ringed thong of the “Bronzés ", warning the eyes !

The pioneer was Johnny Weissmuller, alias Tarzan, with his hairy thighs and his 100% organic coconut fiber thong. Since then, males in briefs – city or bathing – have followed one another in the cinema. Sometimes macho – like Aldo Maccione rolling mechanics on the beach – sometimes pathetic – like Thierry Lhermitte in Les Bronzés, revealing a kangaroo with the most beautiful effect to a hilarious Josiane Balasko… While landing on our screens Le Grand Bain and its band of apprentice artistic swimmers, review of men in “very masculine, very good” underpants (the not too young will recognize the advertising reference…).

”The Life of Brian”, by Terry Jones (1979)

Are they not well, there, calm, relaxed from the loincloth? In the last scene of this cult film, the crucifixion of Brian and his friends takes place in song. Monty Python's philosophy? “When in life you stumble on a bone, don't grumble, whistle a little. To make everything better, to make everything better, take life on the bright side! […] You come from nothingness, you return there. What have you lost, nothing at all! An ode to joyful nihilism.

"Superman", by Richard Donner (1978) and its countless sequels and variations...

A man in his underwear is not necessarily helpless. The proof with the most famous superhero of all time. In red underwear on blue tights, Superman is at the height of his power: he circles the Earth three times, lifts buses with one hand, saves his darling from the claws various villains... The trick to neutralizing it? Slip him some kryptonite into the candy mold.

“The Aquatic Effect”, by Sólveig Anspach (2016)

To seduce Florence Loiret-Caille who is “lifeguard at Maurice-Thorez”, Samir Guesmi is ready for anything! Including to learn to swim (even though he already knows how), in neon orange swimming trunks with a palm tree drawn on it. Swimming the breaststroke on a stool, enduring the lessons of the hilarious Olivia Côte: “Do the frog and the energetic little sumo! Come on, let's dive the little ass back into the water! “… With enamored eyes, the apprentice swimmer reinvents modern romanticism, assuming a clumsy virility. Chlorinated and poetic flirting lesson.

“Zardoz”, by John Boorman (1974)

The unlikely vision – and quite unsustainable! – by Sean Connery in a kind of red trikini (underpants and cartridge-holder straps) would almost make you forget that Zardoz, at the start, was considered a daring visual essay, born in a counter-culture context. Today, what remains of this mythological-futuristic fable denouncing human exploitation, the oppression of one caste by another? Delirious images, a bloated oneirism and a ridiculous main character. For lovers of nanars!

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“Borat, cultural lessons on America for the benefit of the glorious nation of Kazakhstan”, by Larry Charles (2005)

He likes to play ping-pong, dance disco, snog his sister and sunbathe in flashy green “mankini”. The swimsuit of Borat, the most calamitous Kazakh journalist on earth, has become a mythical piece.

“Le Plongeon”, by Franck Perry (1968)

Wearing a simple bathing suit, Burt Lancaster decides to return home passing through all the swimming pools of his neighbours. With this critique of the bourgeoisie and of American consumer society, Perry advocated a return to a form of radical authenticity. New Hollywood version of Rousseauism...

“La Piscine”, by Jacques Deray (1969)

Torrid clashes, subdued violence, dangerous games of seduction between Romy and Alain… In this love tragedy around the turquoise rectangle of a swimming pool, Delon , beautiful as ever, offered her body to the sun. And even transcended the very seventies paisley pattern swimsuit.

”Love at first sight in Notting Hill”, by Roger Michell (1999)

He is muscular like a Flanby, sheathed like a half-deflated tire. In the famous romantic comedy, Spike (Rhys Ifans) opens the door to his house in his old underpants loose at the seams and poses proudly, machine-gunned by dozens of paparazzi. The embodiment of the magnificent loser.

“Les Bronzés”, by Patrice Leconte (1978)

We mentioned Thierry Lhermitte, but let's not forget Christian Clavier, who recites Saint-John Perse, with his feet in the sewers and the crotch molded by an alluring thong... The incarnation of the pretentious loser, taken to the highest level!

“The Starry Sky Above My Head”, by Ilan Klipper (2018)

The underpants serve here as a barometer of the state of mind of the character, a writer in his fifties who, after the success of a first novel, vegetates at home, between depression and jubilation of confinement. Hanging out half-naked, soliloquizing, mixing reality and delirium... The rout of the male becomes a hymn to maladjustment. And drag below dubious, existential claim.