The Intouchables (French; 2011)
This film was highly recommended to me for its humanistic elements. It showcases the bond developed by two men of entirely different background and how they each give each other a purpose to live in their trapped life.
It is a tale based on the real life story of a filthy rich quadriplegic man, Phillipe, and his hired hand. Phillipe is wheelchair bound after a paragliding mishap and had earlier lost his wife to cancer. In essence, he is a broken man who is mainly frustrated with life. All the money in the world but entirely dependent on others to move around and even for personal care.
His newfound helper is from the poorer side of town. He is an adopted child from Senegal with many siblings from his adoptive and different fathers. He did not volunteer for the job but was just there to show that he had attended an interview and claim his dole. By twists of fate, his attitude, of the arrogant kind, is the very attribute that fascinates Phillipe. Together, they have some memorable times and help spur each other with their respective backgrounds and find real meaning in their tumultuous lives.
The story did not, however, excite me. The story and the punch lines are highly predictable and give a sense of déjàvu. Perhaps because I was tutored in School of Hard Knock, I had turned stone cold and emotionally numb to situations that evoke a tear or two in most sane individuals.
This film was highly recommended to me for its humanistic elements. It showcases the bond developed by two men of entirely different background and how they each give each other a purpose to live in their trapped life.
It is a tale based on the real life story of a filthy rich quadriplegic man, Phillipe, and his hired hand. Phillipe is wheelchair bound after a paragliding mishap and had earlier lost his wife to cancer. In essence, he is a broken man who is mainly frustrated with life. All the money in the world but entirely dependent on others to move around and even for personal care.
His newfound helper is from the poorer side of town. He is an adopted child from Senegal with many siblings from his adoptive and different fathers. He did not volunteer for the job but was just there to show that he had attended an interview and claim his dole. By twists of fate, his attitude, of the arrogant kind, is the very attribute that fascinates Phillipe. Together, they have some memorable times and help spur each other with their respective backgrounds and find real meaning in their tumultuous lives.
The story did not, however, excite me. The story and the punch lines are highly predictable and give a sense of déjàvu. Perhaps because I was tutored in School of Hard Knock, I had turned stone cold and emotionally numb to situations that evoke a tear or two in most sane individuals.
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