THE OPINION OF THE “WORLD” – WHY NOT
The fiftieth film by Claude Lelouch, 84, is solemnly announced, under this quintessence of Lelouchian title and philosophy, like the last. We will pretend to believe that this curtain fall is authentic, as we know how versatile the farewells of stage people, addictive passion if any, are. For the first proof of this farewell backwards, let’s mention the fact that this ultimate film is multiplied by three from the outset, which leaves a little time to see what is coming. While waiting for the completion of the triptych, here is the first part.
Three old buddies, once enticed for various schemes and long-time converts to honest business, are facing a tough test. Gérard (Darmon) is indeed condemned by medicine and has only a few weeks left to live. Ary (Abittan) and Philippe (Lellouche) refuse to see him leave without offering him the opportunity for an ultimate love story. They therefore go to consult Sandrine (Bonnaire), a director of an escort-girls agency to pay her for this last dream, but quickly agree with her that the most likely solution would consist in her devoting herself to doing the job.
And as we are in the enchanted world of Claude Lelouch, so much better than life indeed, it will not take long for the madam mother to really fall in love with the old rocker, who, between two coughing fits (because this film, c is still The Lady of the Camellias upside down…), will pay him back.
Tourist view
This turn of the pitch done, we will note the two beautiful introductory sequences of the film. The first depicts the defendant Jesus and a few miracles in a police station in front of the circumspect inspectors Célarié and Rabourdin. The second, filmed in Claude Lelouch’s own offices in Paris, is the rather funny one of the recruitment of the call-girl by Ary and Philippe, rather intimidated by the assurance and expertise of the beautiful Sandrine.
For the rest, we will say that the author ofA man and a woman (1966) unfolds his little melodramatic and sentimental music, confined by the Covid-19 to a shoot that takes him from a Montmartre café to a bateau-mouche, and offering love and friendship the pleasant sight, but essentially touristic, that these places themselves give Paris.
French film by Claude Lelouch. With Sandrine Bonnaire, Gérard Darmon, Ary Abittan, Philippe Lellouche, Kev Adams, Elsa Zylberstein, Béatrice Dalle, Clémentine Célarié, Olivier Rabourdin, Robert Hossein (1 h 56).