COMME J'AI TUE MON PERE (HOW I KILLED MY FATHER)

France, 2001, 100 minutes, Colour.
Michel Bouquet, Charles Berling, Natacha Regnier, Stephane Guillon, Amira Casar.
Directed by Anne Fontaine.

How I Killed My Father is a drama of great psychological and emotional impact. It is not a crime thriller. Rather it is a study of a relationship between a middle-aged man and his long-absent father. Charles Berling is a gerontologist, a successful man in Versailles who receives accolades from the city. Michel Bouquet, a veteran of many French films for decades, especially films by Chabrol, is the father who deserted his family, going to Africa to do philanthropic work as a doctor and who now suddenly returns. Natacha Regnier (The Dream Life of Angels) is Berling's loving, glamorous wife.

The film is particularly French in its psychological portrait of characters and their interrelationships. However, the issues are so archetypal and well portrayed (with Freudian overtones) that the film has a universal appeal.

The film was presented as a psychological case study, as a psychodrama - and one wonders whether this is what really happened or is something in the imagination of the central character.

1. The impact of the film? Characters, relationships? Insights into character and relationships between father and children?

2. The Versailles setting, affluent, high society? The clinic, the home, the gardens? The musical score and its contribution?

3. Michel Bouquet’s performance, his screen presence, mysterious, enigmatic, detached, yet reaching out?

4. The title and its irony? The older son and his attitude towards his father, the younger son and his not knowing his father? The return of the father, their dealing with him, their moving towards a new relationship, killing their father?

5. The structure of the film, the build-up of Jean- Luc at his work, the clinic, his clients? The celebration, the arrival of his father? The end of the film and the return to the moment before the celebration? Had this actually happened in reality or in his mind?

6. The character of Jean- Luc, his age, experience, professional life and skills, the acclamation of Versailles, in the family, his loving wife? The years of his father's absence, his detached and somewhat cold manner? His relationship with his assistant, the affair? His visit to the prostitute? His reaction to his father's arrival, coping with him at the celebration? Allowing him to stay? Their discussions, going back over the past, trying to understand what had happened, Jean- Luc's relationship with his mother? The irony of Patrick being his chauffeur, his assistant? The meals, restaurants, outings? His going to see Patrick perform, supporting him? Moving towards a reconciliation with his father? His relationship with his wife, her spending more time with his father? His father then disappearing - his killing his father or his memory of his father?

7. Maurice arriving at the party, his presence, age, bearing? His courtesy, meeting people? His relationship with his son, with his son's wife? His not knowing Patrick? His staying in the home, his behaviour in the house, his room, the refrigerator at night, restaurants, discussions? The revelation of his character, his near suicide, Africa and his contribution? The visit of his friend, his coming alive seeing his African friend, their discussions, plans, raising money? The reality of Maurice or his being a figment of his son's imagination?

8. Patrick, the younger son, not knowing his father, satisfied in being his brother's chauffeur, the way that he was treated by his brother? His girlfriend and relationship? His writing stand-up comedy routines - their irony and comment on his own experience?

9. Jean- Luc's wife, high society, wealth? Her relationship with her husband? Knowing or not knowing about his infidelity? Meeting Maurice, spending more time with him, getting to know him, liking him, the mutual attraction? Finally seeing her sitting in the garden as she was at the beginning of the film? Her future?

10. Jean- Luc's assistant, her Syrian background, devotion to Jean- Luc, her work? At the socials? The irony of her having a relationship with Jean- Luc, her child? The future?

11. Patrick's girlfriend, her strong influence on him, her presence in the family? Changing Patrick?

12. French society, the mayor and his speech, Jean- Luc's clients, the world of wealth, the world of prostitutes, the world of philanthropy?

13. A memorable drama, Freudian psychology and superego, id and ego? A dramatisation of psychological conflict?