The untouchables and asylum seekers

IN COLLISION OF DIVERSITY FRIENDSHIP IS POSSIBLE

'Politika', 2012/6/8

Movie 'The Intouchables' directed by Olivia Nakash and Eric Toledano, roles: François Kluz and Omar Si, duration 92 minutes, France, 2011.

From French movie 'The Intouchables'

There are many reasons why the 'The Intouchables', by Olivia Nakash and Eric Toledano, became second most watched French movie of all time, why he was the gratest hit in German and Italian cinemas last winter and why he is still the no1 rating in Croatia and Slovenia.

Some of the reasons are the following:

nedodirljivi

First of all it is a quite intelligent comedy, made by charming, humorous but true story about strong friendship among two men who have nothing in common at first sight. One of them, millionaire aristocrat, remains quadriplegic, after a serious accident with a parachute, forever bound to a wheelchair. And the other is Senegalese immigrant from Parisian suburbs recently released from prison, now hired to help physically, to carry, to move and turn his injured employer.

So, here we have a friendship that is born in collision of two dirrerent worlds, two opposite views of the world and class and racial backgrounds, which is not particularly original and innovative film story. But because Nakash and Tolenado's story is true, what you see in their " Intouchables " gets a special significance, wakes noble feelings and positive thoughts and makes viewer to feel good.

Another reason for the popularity of this movie should be sought at his social actualities and fresh memories of the noise and rage in Paris suburbs, the current pan-European chauvinism against immigrants, the current efforts of some European leaders for lower permeability of allegedly open borders of EU, but also for less impact of multiculturalism and greater impact of globalized uniformity...

All this and more echoes in the background of the main flow of this story that is everything but politically correct, which had been attributed to the characteristics by those who do not see in it nothing but a culturally awakened portrait of the white French in the mission of enlightenment and pygmalion mission against the uneducated black, African immigrant. Really, that's not the point. The point is that the rich white invalid (Filip) with aristocratic villa in the most luxurious neighborhood in Paris and his black medic (Dris) from a typical Parisian slum, are very much alike. Despite apparent lack of respect one and another, these two men have the same relation of love for life and its daily challenges, energy and adrenalin, same sense of bitter-sweet humor and politically incorrect jokes and innate sense of humanity. They complement each odher perfectly, they open up horizons and give back strenght to each other when it fails. That is why they had recognized and linked to each other and create unbreakable friendship.

Although Nakash and Tolenado's movie is not without stereotypes, sometimes even cliches taken from popular American movies, it is one of the better, more tactile and ironic created movies on racial issue. Directing style is obviously refined; Nakash i Tolenado are playing with melodramatic forms without falling into cheap sentimentalism and pathetic. They lead narrative chronologically, without much dramatic turnarounds, with the occasional cyclical return to the initial scene. Building atmosphere of the movie, further enhanced with background music by Italian composer and pianist Ludovico Einaudi, also with photography by Mathieu Vadepied, they offer to a wider audience so-called therapeutic-escapist film in which really enjoys.

And finaly, one of the strongest arguments to justify the global success of French movie 'The Intouchables' is placed within the fantastic acting duo François Kluz (Filip) - Omar Si (Dris). Acting chemistry that exists between them, makes the relationship between their characters extremely convincing, and remarkable embodiment of a two socio-class and racial opposing individuals...

In every cinema that shows 'The Intouchables' it becomes a hit. Everywhere but in Serbia, where has been showing for some time with poor ratings. Why? Well, that's a different story I might tell you one day.

Dubravka Lakić

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