Chicken Soup

A tv programme

Written by

Caroline Milcent

Directed by

Caroline Milcent

Produced by

Christmas in July

Production year2026

GenresDocumentary

Runtime 66 min

Synopsis

The United States are about to reelect Trump, and Lili, a broke, impetuous young woman, brilliantly played by Louise Leroy, lives off odd jobs in New York and has just been dumped by Seth. The opening of the film cleverly jumps right into the action, and right after, a colorful sequence shows a group of Lili’s friends in an absurd debate over whether or not people should take off their shoes at home and at other people’s houses. It is actually the reason why Lili and her boyfriend broke up: she insists on keeping them on all the time, even in the bathroom, much to the dismay of her American friends. The dialogues are lively, joyfully playing with clichés, and setting the tone for this caustic, fast-paced comedy. Chicken Soup, Caroline Milcent’s amazing first film, handles humor in a skillful, subtle way. After a first part that strings together a series of social situations with burlesque potential, Lili – who shares her name with the dog of the family she babysits for – is approached by two cops while taking a stroll with the children. Things go downhill when, after a few lighthearted exchanges, the cops ask for her green card and she hasn’t got one. As an illegal alien, the young woman embarks on a journey where the situation comedy of the film meets the absurdity of an iniquitous and senseless immigration system. While the film never loses its tender tone, it does not turn to social drama either. We are never really worried about Lili, since Chicken Soup also makes the most of the privileges granted by Lili’s nationality – the film, incidentally, makes fun of a France that still believes the world revolves around it – as well as her youth and social background, which protect her. But the humor leaves a sour taste. There are no “good cops” here. They don’t even look malignant. They are just mediocre men, more interested in donuts than in their jobs, carrying out humiliating and nonsensical procedures without a qualm. It all ends well for Lili. But afterall, we know that things could have gone seriously wrong.