Synopsis

Set in turn-of-the-century France, this short comedy follows Joseph Pujol, the Moulin Rouge performer known as Le Petomane for his extraordinary control of flatulence, and Dr. Marcel Baudouin, whose fascination with Pujol's unusual talent becomes an all-consuming obsession. Their escalating relationship mixes period spectacle, grotesque humor, and the uneasy boundary between medical curiosity and show-business exploitation.

Factoids & Trivia

• The film is based on the real-life Joseph Pujol, whose stage act involved producing controlled sounds and musical effects through an unusual mastery of his abdominal muscles.

• Pujol performed at the Moulin Rouge during the 1890s, making his career an example of how novelty acts could become major attractions in Belle Epoque entertainment.

• Although conceived as a very low-budget production, enthusiasm for the script and word of mouth reportedly expanded the project to involve roughly 300 people.

• The 34-minute film was produced by Hero Filmworks and released in 2005. It was shot in Los Angeles, including work at Universal Studios.

• The film joins several screen treatments of Pujol's life, following earlier productions such as the 1979 television film *Le Petomane*, the 1983 Italian feature *Il Petomane*, and the 1998 documentary *Le Petomane: Fin de siecle fartiste*.