The Intouchables

The Intouchables
Directors: Olivier Nakache & Eric Toledano
Stars: Francois Cluzet, Omar Sy, & Anne Le Ny
New Release Review

"You know the whole thing is in French, right?"
That's what the kid said to me when I bought my ticket for The Intouchables. He went on to tell me that a lot of people didn't realize it is a French film with subtitles and were complaining they weren't warned beforehand. It's a shame that the Australian audience isn't more adventurous because The Intouchables isn't a bad way to spend 2 hours.

From my Trailer Tuesday review:
The story focuses on Philippe (Cluzet) and his attempts to be more integrated into mainstream life by hiring Driss (Sy). Driss is also an "untouchable" in the social sense because he lives in a cité which is the suburbs where those of North African nationality or heritage typically live. Through the eyes of Driss we see the distance between the rich and the poor by highlighting the luxury Philippe indulges in while Driss and his family experience a much different life.

The Intouchables stays with Philippe throughout most of the film but manages to provide a snapshot of Driss' life on the margins as a member of a poor immigrant family. In an interesting touch, the way we're introduced to the gap between the haves and have-nots in Paris is through a bathtub. In Driss' family apartment, he has an almost laughably small tub in which to bathe. However all that changes when he starts living in Philippe's home and has not only a private bathroom but a tub that allows him to stretch out. It's this simple thing, a hot bath, that reminds us how even simple daily tasks can be made that much harder.

The Intouchables provides some great laughs and some touching scenes of friendship. Don't let the subtitles put you off, this is a very enjoyable film that will leave you smiling all day.