World Movies - The Intouchables

The Intouchables

Language : French

Year of Release : 2011

Cast : Francois Cluzet,Omar Sy and Anne Le

Direction : Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano

Music : Ludovico Einaudi

Cinematography : Mathieu Vadepied

                                          The French produce quality movies in varied genres that Hollywood cannot even match. The Intouchables is such a classic,which is inspired by a true story - this movie hits the bull's eye.The film begins with Driss (Omar) driving Philippe's (Cluzet) car rashly, and the cops begin chasing them. The story is then told to us in a long flashback.

Philippe is a millionaire from Paris, who had been paralyzed after an accident,is shown interviewing for candidates for the position of his caretaker. A jobless, carefree Driss shows up at the interview, he gets frustrated because of the long wait and skips the queue and barges in the interview chamber.He has not come looking for a job but he wants Philippe to sign a document for the Social Security so that he would get his unemployment benefit. Philippe is furious, yet he is amused by Driss's sense of humour and offers him a probation period of one month as his caretaker. After which, Philippe would decide to keep him on the job or not. Driss accepts the offer and moves in Philippe's bungalow. How his arrival brings about a positive change in the life of Philippe, his adopted daughter and all of Philippe's employees forms the rest of the story. The movie deals with how friendship is struck up between two highly unlikely individuals - a paralyzed french millionaire - who loves art and poetry and a poor easy-going and carefree guy of Senegal origins, who has had few criminal charges against him in the past. The movie never goes overboard on emotions, and gives us an interesting take on the life of a physically challenged individual. It also shows the disparities in lifestyles between the elite and the poor in France.This movie is a masterpiece and both the leads have done an amazing job, it is very tough to pick up the better among these two. However, Omar gets an extra like from me, because of his charming screen presence and cheeky one liners. The screenplay is great, and the entire team has done a great job by adapting a real life story onto the big screen. This movie takes you on a memorable emotional roller coaster ride, and I certainly enjoyed every frame of this movie. At the same time, the movie is such a laugh riot,and makes you laugh till your stomach aches  in many of the scenes. Omar makes you laugh with almost every statement of his.The movie takes a dig on art and music, but also signifies the importance of music in our lives. The movie subtly conveys the message life ought to be lived to the fullest until the last breath.This one manages to stay clear of all cliches that you attach with such movies and ends on a positive note.

What I feel

My Rating : 9

One Liners :  Le Masterpiece, Instant Classic, Simply irresistible !

Recommended movies of the same genre/similar plots : Bucket List, Scent of a Woman, The Shawshank Redemption

What the Internet says

IMDb rating : 8.5/10

Tomatometer : 75%  Average rating : 6.8/10

Hand Picked Trivia (Source: The IMDb & The Wikipedia)

The plot of the film is inspired by the true story of Philippe Pozzo di Borgo and his French-Algerian caregiver Abdel Sellou, discovered by the directors in a documentary film.

Although the real-life 'Driss' was an Algerian man called Abdel, the directors changed the character's nationality to West-African, as they had enjoyed working with Omar Sy previously.

With over 8 million moviegoers, this was the most successful movie in Germany in 2012 beating the likes of "Skyfall" and the "Ice Age 3"


External Links
 Untouchable: the true story that inspired a box office hit - Article from the Telegraph