|
My Afternoons with Margueritte
| Released |
26 November 2010 |
| Director |
Jean Becker |
Starring
|
Gérard Depardieu, Gisele Casadesus, Francois-Xavier Demaison, Maurane, Patrick Bouchitey, Sophie Guillemin |
| Writer(s) |
Jean-Loup Dabadie, Jean Becker |
| Producer(s) |
Louis Becker |
| Origin |
France |
| Running Time |
82 minutes |
| Genre |
Comedy, drama |
| Rating |
15A |
|
|
Tender and truthful.
The plot of My Afternoons with Margueritte, a new French movie from director Jean Becker, would seem on paper to be schmaltzy, over sentimental rubbish. It deals with the burgeoning friendship between Germain; an obese, mocked village idiot, and Margueritte; an old woman losing her sight, who meet on a park bench to discuss pigeons and literature. And yet instead it is beautiful, charming and oh-so feel-good, that even the most cynical out there will have their hearts warmed by this delicate and loving homage to true friendship.
Based on the book of the same name, La tete en friche, by Marie-Sabine Roger, the movie is set in a sleepy and clichéd small French village, which seems to be stuck in a sort of 50s -idealised version of a typical romantic French town. Old friends meet daily in a rustic and picturesque pub, people shop in organic markets on the side of sun-soaked cobble-stoned streets, and the French notion of romance and love occupies the minds of most in a touching, innocent fashion. The background players do little apart from add to this pleasant atmosphere and infuse the flavour of beauty and love that pervades the story.
Gerard Depardieu in this role demonstrates his deft talent and ability to subtly portray a character's kindness and melancholy, and manages to almost instantly foster a real affection for his character Germain in the audience. Germain is a kind and awkward soul, who has had an extremely fraught relationship with his mother all his life. Slightly mischievous, prone to saying the wrong thing, and so often mocked by his friends as an idiot, he carries a noose of self pity, and at times, even loathing around his neck. The dungarees-wearing, oafish and blundering Depardieu plays Germain in a gentle manner, and it's hard not to think of Obelisk (from Asterix and Obelix) when I look at him.
In typical French fashion he has a beautiful young blonde girlfriend Annette, played charmingly by Sophie Guillemin, and in this relationship we see Germain's first redemption, as the love between the two, and the support and encouragement from Annette, seems genuine and truthful. However it is a chance encounter on a park bench with ninety-five year old Margueritte that really brings about changes in Germain's life and confidence levels. While Germain struggles with reading as a throwback to his difficult schooling and upbringing, Margueritte fosters in him a love for literature by reading aloud to him, and it is these scenes between the two that are the real shining light of the movie. Scenes from books such as Camus' Le Peste are brilliantly realised and demonstrated through Germain's imagination. With a whole new world of learning opened up to him, we see Germain grow as a person, just as the platonic love between himself and Margueritte blossoms.
Gisele Casadesus, now ninety-six years old, is an absolute delight as Margueritte; at times funny, candid, caring, and passionate, in the most tranquil and warmest of fashions. At times poignant, this movie is one that I believe in anyone else's hands, may have fallen flat on its face. However Becker has allowed the natural affection between the two characters, the subtle bittersweet life of Germain, and the universal importance of friendship shine to through in My Afternoons with Margueritte. An absolute pleasure from start to finish.
- Eadaoin Browne |
