L'INVITATION
Switzerland, 1973, 100 minutes, Colour.
Jean- Luc Bideau, Jean Champion, Michel Robin.
Directed by Claude Goretta.
L'invitation is a Swiss/French production, directed by Claude Goretta who was to go on to make a number of significant films including The Lacemaker with Isabelle Huppert.
Critics compare L'invitation with the films of Jean Renoir - a useful comparison insofar as Goretta has similarities with such films as A Picnic in the Country and The Rules of the Game. He portrays a group of people, a cross-section of society, at play at a party and shows the shallowness of their moral values and stances. The film has an excellent cast led by Michel Robin as Remy, the middle-aged bachelor who invites his co-workers to celebrate his gaining some money. The party goes wrong, people behave in callous and callow ways, Remy is disappointed -but returns to work the next day in the old manner.
A film both of charm and wisdom - but not without sardonic touches.
1. An entertaining film? Portrayal of characters, situations? A film critical of contemporary society?
2. The Swiss locations, colour photography? The office and its day-by-day life? Remy's villa and the grounds? The party? The musical score?
3. The title and the focus on Remy, his plan, the invitation, the acceptances, the party, the behaviour, the failure of the party? The ironic touches with the title?
4. Michel Robin's sympathetic portrait of Remy: his age, quiet bachelor, reserve, good manners, kindliness, Seeing him at work, his relationships with those in the office - friendly? Their offhand touches? His mother, support of her? Her death? Sympathetic leave from the office? The arrangement of the selling of the house? Money? His decision to go to the country villa? The decision about the party - the invitation to the friends at the office? The housewarming? The arrival of the guests? The beginnings of the party, the tour? Remy’s hiring of Emile as the barman? The influence Emile? The beginning of the party, the drinks, the sunshine, the grass? The shift from respectability and Remy’s having to cope? The embarrassment? His not knowing what to do? The fight? Remy and his being knocked out? Their taking him backs into the house? His asking them all to leave? The aftermath of the party, his loneliness? His asking Emile to stay? Emile's refusal? The final glimpse of Remy back at the desk, his life going back into its rut?
5. The portrait of Emile: His being hired, his acting as barman, guide, his way of speaking, supercilious attitudes towards the guests? The punctilious manner of fulfilling his duty? His attitudes towards the guests? His handling the situation? After the guests had left? Remy’s request for him to stay? His courteous refusal? His desire to move on and experience variety in life? An unusual character? The contrast with Ramp and with the guests?
6. The sketch of the-office people at work, arriving at the party, their behaviour at the party - and the dropping of masks, the dropping of courtesy, rough and brutal aspects emerging, the real persons manifesting themselves? The variety of the guests: Maurice, his work at the office, jokes, his way with the women, flirting, the party game, his request to Remy for money and Remy's reaction? Aileen at the office, at the party, the impromptu striptease? The General Manager and his roving eye, the attentions to the woman? Lamel, the way of acting in the office, as assistant, pomposity, his reaction to Maurice, his anger? (Audiences sharing Lamel's attitude towards Maurice and his behaviour, drinking, indecency?)
7. The variety of moods in the film? The audience moving through the experience with Remy? Gentleness, routine, the possibilities of something wonderful, the degeneration of the party, collapse, regret? The aftermath and the return to 'normal'?
8. A skilful portrait of a range of people? As individuals? As a group? In the work setting? Outside it? Insight into human nature and ways of behaviour?
9. The group as a microcosm of the contemporary world?
