¨Sometimes you have to reach into someone
else's world to find out what's missing in your own.¨
Intouchables is a remarkable ¨feel good¨ French
film mostly about friendship, but there is a little bit of drama and a love
story included as well. This film with relatively unknown directors and actors
has managed to make some big noise in Europe, and especially in France where it
has become the second highest grossing French film of all time. The key to the
success of Intouchables relies on the great chemistry and performances from
Francois Cluzet and Omar Sy. They are just absolutely great in this film and
their friendship felt authentic and real. The movie mixes the drama with the comedy
really well and it works better than most films have in the past when combining
two different and sometimes opposite characters together. Sy and Cluzet play
totally different characters who come from very different backgrounds, and
although we`ve seen this play out in hundreds of films in the past it works
really well here thanks to their terrific performance and a great script from
the directors Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano. Cluzet has a sort of a Dustin
Huffman vibe and he says so much with his expressions without having to say
anything at times, while Sy plays a more outgoing character who isn’t afraid to
speak his mind. This odd pairing reminded me a lot of another film which I
really loved, Goodbye Solo which follows a similar premise at times.
Intouchables is a feel good movie, but it transcends the term at times and
becomes much more. An absolute must see, especially if you`ve ever had to work
or live with a handicapped person.
Philippe (Francois Cluzet) is a very rich quadriplegic
who lives in his mansion with several servants and his teenage daughter. He is
hiring a live-in carer once again (since most only last a couple of days with
him). Driss (Omar Sy) happens to be applying for the job, but actually just
wants to get rejected so he can live on welfare without having to work. He`s
been in prison for the last 6 months and away from home, but Philippe decides
to actually hire Driss for the job considering he is someone different who doesn’t
look at him with empathy and actually treats him like a normal person. Driss and
Philippe come from very different backgrounds, but they seem to complement each
other very well. Philippe is a millionaire who`s interested in art and classical
music; while Driss comes from a poor African background, who`s interested in
pop culture mostly and in bands such as Earth, Wind, and Fire. Driss is really
outgoing and becomes really close friends with Philippe. Together they share
various stories about their past and end up helping each other solving some
present conflicts. There are some other secondary characters whose names I
don`t even remember because they are not very important to the story, but
mostly revolving around other house servants.
Intouchables is actually loosely based on a
true story involving a quadriplegic and his Arab carer who ends up befriending
him. The directors actually came across a documentary about these two men and
decided to film a movie about it. One of the greatest things about the film
beside the inspiring story was the casting. Omar Sy and Francois Cluzet were
really the perfect match and they had me laughing real hard at times and at the
border of tears during others. It is truly an emotional and powerful film, a
story that will stick with you long after the film ends, and by the time the
credits role you will have a smile on your face. It is a feel good movie, but
never feels cursi or anything like that. I was really surprised with Omar Sy and
hope he gets many more roles. This is really a great French film, very
different from Le Prophet but just as good. I had a really good time watching
this movie and recommend it to everyone.
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