Lambert soon realises that his new friend was murdered by his drug dealing associates and sets out to avenge his death — assisted by Lola, a punk girl who knew Bensoussan briefly.

In 1982, during a train trip, producer Christian Spillmaecker read several novels, including Tchao Pantin by Alain Page, recently published.

[2] Spillmaecker was thrilled by the story of Lambert, a depressed former cop turned pump attendant, determined to find the murderers of a small dealer whom he identifies with his son.

Indeed, the actor was going through a bad patch: his wife Véronique left him with their two children and his friend Patrick Dewaere committed suicide with the rifle presented to him by Coluche.

[2] The role of young Bensoussan, a small dealer who befriends Lambert, was entrusted to Richard Anconina, then little known to the general public.

The role of Lola, a young punk who fell in love with Bensoussan and then Lambert, was given to Agnès Soral, who had filmed under the direction of Berri in A Moment of Distraction.

[9][10] The shots in the infamous districts of the north of Paris went not without a hitch, due to the embarrassment that the film crew caused for petty trafficking, but arrangements were finally made.

[2] Claude Berri himself insisted that the film, shot in June 1983, be released in December of the same year to be able to compete in the Césars of March 1984: he had a presentiment that Coluche would be rewarded.

[14] While it was a modest success in cinemas throughout the month of February, Tchao Pantin climbed back to 9th place following his triumph at the Césars in March 1984, which allowed it to get closer to the 2,400,000 entries.