OSS 117: Lost in Rio (2009)

OSS 117: Lost in Rio (2009) is a French spy comedy, co-written and directed by Michel Hazanavicius. The story begins with Hubert Bonisseur de La Bath, also known as OSS 117, at a ski chalet party in Gstaad entertaining a Chinese countess. However, the party is ambushed by Red Chinese gunmen on behalf of Mr. Lee, leaving only Hubert and the Countess alive. Despite his comical efforts to defend himself and his guests, Hubert is the only survivor. Upon returning to SDECE headquarters, he receives a mission to deliver a blackmail payment of 50,000 new Francs to Professor Von Zimmel – a Nazi who fled to South America with a microfilm containing names of French Nazi sympathizers. In Rio, Hubert faces numerous attacks from Mr. Lee’s relatives and encounters various individuals such as the boisterous CIA agent Bill Tremendous, alluring femme fatale Carlotta, and Professor Von Zimmel’s luchador enforcers.

Eventually, Mossad agents join the chaos in pursuit of bringing Professor Von Zimmel back to Israel for trial. In the film, OSS 117 and Dolorès Koulechov, an Israeli Army Colonel, join forces to bring Von Zimmel to Israel in a similar fashion as Adolf Eichmann. Their lead to Von Zimmel is his son, who has now adopted a hippie lifestyle. While navigating this mission, the main character finds himself caught between two romantic interests: a mysterious beauty named Carlotta and Dolorès Koulechov herself. Initially, Koulechov is unimpressed with OSS 117’s sexist, racist, and colonialist attitudes, but eventually warms up to him. When questioned by de La Bath about her dislike for Brazil’s dictatorial military government at the time, she cites several examples of totalitarianism that de La Bath surprisingly equates with those under Charles de Gaulle in France.