Set in an imaginary Latin American republic, director Jacques Baratier's irreverent, absurdist, Paris-lensed sci-fi satire is an often incomprehensible, always fascinating hodgepodge that embraces politics, sex, mistaken identities, and subversive casting. With a script written by Jacques Audiberti, adapted from his own novel, it features vibrant color cinematography by Raoul Coutard (Truffaut's JULES ET JIM, Godard's À BOUT DE SOUFFLE) and a bizarre dual-role showcase for Zbigniew Cybulski, Poland's most famous film acto. Star of Andrzej Wajda's ASHES AND DIAMONDS and Wojciech Has' THE SARAGOSSA MANUSCRIPT, he died in 1967 at the age of 39 due to a fluke railway accident... Industrialist Guillermo Moren (Claudio Gora) considers revolution a commodity as lucrative as coal, oil, fruit, or banking, and he's currently figuring out the most profitable way to deal with dictator Colonel Octavio Prado Roth (Cybulski, sporting a ludicrous fake goatee), who's also sleeping with Moren's wife Marian (Danish female impersonator Sonne Teal). Meanwhile, Professor Palmas has devised a method to temporarily duplicate matter and uses it to further his leftist ideals by creating a "puppet" version of Marian, with Palmas literally inhabiting and controlling this double. In addition, Moren's lovely daughter (Catherine Millinaire) encounters swarthy revolutionary Coral (again, Cybulski), but romance isn't in the cards since he's too busy plotting to kill Roth and liberate his people. The industrialist holds a sumptuous ball with the colonel as his guest of honor and everyone is invited (including both Cybulskis and both Teals), but when Roth unexpectedly dies during the event, it louses up Moren's delicate timetable for the upcoming assassination of this tinpot dictator. The only reasonable solution? Convince Coral to pose as Roth, then kill him instead -- even as Coral's idealistic convictions are put to the test... The entire production is pitched at an almost strident level, from its candy-colored wardrobes, gaudy theatrical backdrops and abrupt musical interludes to its array of overwrought performances -- particularly Cybulski, who seemed to relish this rare opportunity to show off his comedic skills. The casting of stage performer Teal was obviously far ahead of its time, with some of the film's ad campaigns concealing the star's gender and others using it as publicity gimmick (e.g., its gross UK retitling, HE, SHE OR IT?). Teal plays both roles without one iota of subtlety, performing several musical numbers in various stages of undress, while also leading an uprising of the impoverished citizens and flamboyantly parading through the slums. Unfortunately, Teal died only a few years after this film, in 1966 at the age of 37. Also look for a young Daniel Emilfork (THE CITY OF LOST CHILDREN) as a fanatical assassin, plus Jacques Dufilho dresses up like an old woman in a rocking chair and acts as a greek chorus.

© 2023 by Steven Puchalski.