Focus: Funny Business
The Man in the White Suit
Alexander Mackendrick
1951 / GBR / 1h25 / Age: 12 (14)
When the fabric wears out, the system breaks down
A chemist, whose career has stalled, makes a groundbreaking discovery: a fabric that is indestructible and stain-resistant. But the textile magnates and the trade unions, fearing for their jobs, will do everything in their power to prevent his invention from seeing the light of day… A classic of British anti-establishment comedy, The Man in the White Suit offers a quirky yet lucid take on a theme that remains as relevant as ever.
Language: English
Subtitles: French
Starring: Alec Guinness, Joan Greenwood & Cecil Parker
Funny Business
The VIFFF is dedicating its 2026 thematic focus to workplace comedies. From the Industrial Revolution to artificial intelligence, via the rise of office-based employment, the world of work has been constantly changing — with its dreams of progress as well as its disillusionments.
Combining satire of capitalism with a critique of power dynamics, this selection humorously explores the absurdities of our everyday working lives.