Hello movie lovers!
Well it is my absolute delight in bringing this review to the public. This movie The Intouchables, shown at the Gem Theatre for one night only, was spectacular! It was brought in as a Spotlight Films presentation and I had the pleasure of seeing it.
Funny enough, I was not feeling well before going, but boy once I got there, I forgot my sniffles and laughed, cried – the whole nine yards.
This is a French film so it had subtitles, and after several minutes, one got completely used to them. It was made in 2011 and was voted the cultural event in France for that year. The two main characters are unknown to me, Francois Cluzet and Omar Sy, one French the other from Senegal and what chemistry they had.
It is based on the true story of Phillipe Pozzo di Borgo and his helper Abdel Sellou and takes place in Paris.
Apparently Sy received the Cesar award for best actor in 2012; this is an honorary French award and he is the first black man to win such a coveted award.
It is set in the lavish apartment of Mr. di Borgo who is quadriplegic from a handgliding accident. He is a widow and very wealthy.
Sy plays the role of a young man lost in life, having been in trouble with the law, but seems to be trying to straighten himself out. Sy goes to get a signature from anyone who will give him one, to say he has applied for work; lo and behold, he lands the job.
As he gets trained into how to care for someone disabled, there are some very funny moments as well as some emotional ones. The fact that this young man has humour, little pity and treats his new boss like the man he once was, wins the heart of the older man.
Of course, there are other problems arising, especially with Sy’s extended large family, who are poor and one is into some criminal stuff.
This is definitely one of the finest movies I have had the pleasure of seeing. It contains the gamut of emotions, laughter, sadness, compassion, music and lastly but certainly not least, some romance. There is a strong message also in the film, pity does not help any situation, humour and genuine caring gets the vote every time.
The other players in this movie, particularly the other staff members of the household, are also very good, making the atmosphere in this lovely home, colourful and interesting.
It was very nice to see the city of Paris, a nice change indeed.
Please do not miss this one should you get the opportunity to do so, that would be a mistake. The film renews one’s faith in the human race.
– Liz Martin is a film critic for the Grand Forks Gazette, a movie lover, cello player and happy retiree