Dans La Cour
05/02/17 Filed in: Amazon Prime
I'm working my way through the French language films on Amazon Prime and from the brief summary on screen I expected this to be another light comedy. It's billed under comedy and drama but the story is for the most part a bit sombre, and the ending is far from funny. That said, there is some humour along the way.
Antoine is a seriously depressed singer with a rock band and the film begins with him walking out of that life, literally. Unskilled, and of a somewhat sullen disposition, he finds it difficult to find and hold down a job. A woman at the job centre (agence d'intérim) suggests a job as a caretaker (guardien) at an apartment block, which comes with accommodation. He gets the job, not as a result of his interview which is far from sparkling, but because the landlord's wife, Mathilde, played by Catherine Deneuve, takes a rather instant liking to him. Mathilde, as it turns out, is also depressed, worrying herself awake at nights because of a growing crack in one of the walls.
Antione and Mathilde are thus somewhat like souls, and as he struggles with life, not helped by drinking and taking drugs, she becomes more and more obsessed with the state of the building. A particularly annoying tenant, Laurent, is continually bothering Antoine, while another young man, Stéphane, who also lives in one of the flats, presents problems by storing a number of probably stolen bicycles in the courtyard, one of Laurent's bugbears. Then Lev arrives, selling self-help books on meditation, and Antoine, feeling sorry for him, ends up allowing him to stay in the storeroom. Lev has a dog, and the night time barking becomes another source of complaints from Laurent. Thus Antoine's desire to have a quiet life turns out not to be realised. The comedy aspect of this film lies in these many interactions.
Antoine is a seriously depressed singer with a rock band and the film begins with him walking out of that life, literally. Unskilled, and of a somewhat sullen disposition, he finds it difficult to find and hold down a job. A woman at the job centre (agence d'intérim) suggests a job as a caretaker (guardien) at an apartment block, which comes with accommodation. He gets the job, not as a result of his interview which is far from sparkling, but because the landlord's wife, Mathilde, played by Catherine Deneuve, takes a rather instant liking to him. Mathilde, as it turns out, is also depressed, worrying herself awake at nights because of a growing crack in one of the walls.
Antione and Mathilde are thus somewhat like souls, and as he struggles with life, not helped by drinking and taking drugs, she becomes more and more obsessed with the state of the building. A particularly annoying tenant, Laurent, is continually bothering Antoine, while another young man, Stéphane, who also lives in one of the flats, presents problems by storing a number of probably stolen bicycles in the courtyard, one of Laurent's bugbears. Then Lev arrives, selling self-help books on meditation, and Antoine, feeling sorry for him, ends up allowing him to stay in the storeroom. Lev has a dog, and the night time barking becomes another source of complaints from Laurent. Thus Antoine's desire to have a quiet life turns out not to be realised. The comedy aspect of this film lies in these many interactions.
Meanwhile Antoine has suggested to Mathilde that she appoint some experts to report on the 'crack'. This they do, saying that it is not anything to worry about, explaining that it has arisen because the building rests on clay, while the two adjacent ones are on concrete, causing lateral movements. Mathilde, however, concentrates on the instability of the clay and starts a local movement telling the neighbours about the serious risk they face from subsidence. Mathilde's husband Serge despairs, and when Mathilde organises a soirée aimed at presenting the facts to the neighbours, which goes terribly wrong, Serge considers whether she needs medical help. Mathilde seeks to be consoled by Antoine, but this weighs heavily on him in his already depressive state.
Antoine shares his drug habit with Stéphane, who was supposedly once a footballer with great prospects, these being dashed as a result of injury. Within this circle of flawed individuals one would not expect there to be a 'happy ever after' ending, but there is an awakening of sorts for Mathilde, which is due in no small measure to her friendship with Antoine.
As with many French films, this is a story of life as one could imagine it, given a certain set of circumstances.
Antoine shares his drug habit with Stéphane, who was supposedly once a footballer with great prospects, these being dashed as a result of injury. Within this circle of flawed individuals one would not expect there to be a 'happy ever after' ending, but there is an awakening of sorts for Mathilde, which is due in no small measure to her friendship with Antoine.
As with many French films, this is a story of life as one could imagine it, given a certain set of circumstances.