Le petomane: Fin de siècle fartiste

Under the stage name "Le Petomane," Joseph Pujol was the toast of turn-of-the-century Paris. Audiences at the Moulin Rouge where first shocked, then won over, by this tall, mustachioed man in a red velvet suit...a suite with a hole cut in the derriere to release his remarkable talent. Pujol was a skilled musician in his own right, but his greatest instrument was his own rectum, with which he could produce an astounding variety of musical tones. Through a combination of historical documents, photographs, archival films, and interviews, this video reclaims Pujol's place in history and, in the process, opens up a veritable Pandora's box of contemporary debate over the meaning, impact, and value of this unusual master flatulator.

Directed by Mark Ruggio, Mike Bonanno, Le petomane: Fin de siècle fartiste leans on a strong ensemble — Michael Pataki, Eileen Brennan, Sandy Baron — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about documentary titles of 1998.