"Delicatessen," on the other hand, gets the lunacy just right, although this one - a cannibal comedy with a very bleak futuristic setting - is likely too dark for mainstream audiences.

The story focuses on the varied tenants in a dilapidated (and very gothic) apartment building that rests over the title establishment. The butcher who owns the place captures innocent victims from time to time and serves them up as dinner - the only meat people can get anymore. He takes his payment in grain, which is almost as rare.

The newest tenant, a former clown who is hired as a handyman, is an intended victim - but not until he fixes up the place. But when the butcher's nearsighted daughter falls in love with the handyman it complicates matters.

Meanwhile, there's the woman who repeatedly tries to commit suicide with inventive Rube Goldberg machinery, the lecherous mailman and a band of bumbling underground (literally) rebels.

There are many very funny moments here, with equal amounts of pratfalls, sight gags, one-liners and offbeat characters. The players are all quite good and co-writers/directors Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Marc Caro never go for gore.

Still, make no mistake, this is about as dark as farce can get.

"Delicatessen" is rated R for violence, profanity and a sex scene.