CAFE DE FLORE

Canada, 2011, 120 minutes, Colour.
Vanessa Paradis, Kevin Parent, Helene Florent, Evelyne Brochu, Marin Gerrier.
Directed by Jean- Marc Vallee.

This is a film to surrender to if you can rather than detach yourself from and analyse the plots. Because there are plots, two of them. If you are alert to music, clothes and fashions as well as makes of cars, you will soon realise that one of the stories takes place in Paris in the late 1960s. The other story is contemporary. Set in Canada. We are introduced to the central character in each story with an extensive explanation which sets a tone for our feelings and response.

This would be all right if each story were self-contained. But, they are not. The film, edited by its director, Jean-Marc? Vallee, moves constantly between one and the other (and the stories move around in time as well). Are there connections?

The discarded wife in Canada looks like the mother in the Paris story. The song Café de Flore recurs, as do other songs in each story, the songs becoming something like themes for particular characters. They also evoke memories of past experiences. The Canadian daughter uses music to goad her father about his breaking up his marriage.

Towards the end, the ex-wife consults a medium and there is discussion about soul-mates in life and love, as well as possible links with (reincarnation?) soul-mates living in other times and places. These are evocative suggestions rather than logical arguments – and may be hard to accept by those who would prefer some clear reasoning rather than mystical intimations.

Kevin Parent is Antoine, turning forty. We are told he exudes happiness. But, he is in therapy, is leaving his devoted wife and daughters, wants to marry a pretty young woman, half his age, who is in love with him. Depending on how much we identify with the ex-wife and her pain, Antoine becomes less and less sympathetic. This is familiar material, worth dramatising nonetheless.

But, it will be the Paris story which commands our attention and feelings. Jacqueline (a fine Vanessa Paradis) gives birth to a Downs baby and her husband abandons them – he says he doesn’t want to spend his life as a missionary. The film traces Jacqueline’s devotion to her son, Laurent. She has a moment in Church when she realises that Laurent is the mission and meaning of her life. At seven, he is enrolled in a school for ‘ordinary’ children, managing generally but not quite. Jacqueline could not do more for him, lavishing her love. Laurent deeply loves his mother. When he becomes attached to another Downs child, Vero, literally holding on to her, it is a challenge to Jacqueline who realises but refuses to face the fact that she eventually has to let him go. The child actor is wonderful and this story, though sad, is often exhilarating.

The mystical suggestion is that Laurent and Antoine are soul-mates. Not sure that many would want to spend time reflecting on this. So, staying with the stories themselves and their unfolding dramas, there is a great deal to interest and to enjoy.

1. The impact of the stories, characters, themes?

2. A Canadian production, Canadian locations, Paris in the 1960s?

3. The complex structure: the two stories, the separate introductions and explanations of the central characters? The intercutting and editing? The parallels? The mutual comment? The role of music, affirmation, weapon? The episode of the medium – and the creating of the links of soulmates?

4. Audiences wanting rational explanations? The lack of these? Intuitions, mystical connections? How rational?

5. The distances in time and place, the 60s and 2011? Paris and Canada? Issues of reincarnation and soulmates?

6. Antoine as the focus, the explanation of his life, his happiness, twenty years married, the daughters, his job, the music, his travels? Yet his going to the therapist, their discussions? In the apartment overseas, his being upset? His questioning himself? At home, with the family, swimming, happiness? The New Year celebration? His father and the blessing?

7. The change, leaving Carole? His taking up with Rose? Her age? Her being in love with him? Their life together? Separation from his wife? The daughters coming to stay, their reactions, the older daughter, using the music against him? The effect on them? The new New Year? His father and the refusal of a blessing, denouncing his son? Antoine proposing to Rose? Her acceptance?

8. The story of Carole, her devastation in the separation, nightmares, sleepwalking, taking the drugs, confiding in her friend? The advice, Antoine being her only love? Love for her daughters? Her hopes for reconciliation?

9. Her dreams, the link to Jacqueline in Paris? The driving, the boy, the eventual crash?

10. Carole going to the medium, their discussions, the friend challenging the medium, no charge? The explanation of the visit, the issue of soulmates, advice?

11. Jacqueline’s story, the birth of her son, her husband refusing to acknowledge him, not wanting to be a missionary? The boy with Down Syndrome? Her caring for the baby? The episode in the church, her making her life decision for Laurent? The expectation of his life, no more than twenty-five years? Her determination for him to live longer, more normally? Laurent at seven, his character, at the ordinary school, the detail of home life, the demonstrative love between son and mother? At school, the lessons, his learning by imitating? Not wanting to box? Jacqueline teaching him to use strong language to defend himself? His meeting with Vero, his clinging to her, his love for her, discussions with his mother? Jacqueline’s reaction, Vero’s parents and the discussions? His stay-over, his troubled behaviour, Jacqueline coming to get him, confrontation and the slap? Her regret? The school authorities? The suitability of a school for him? Jacqueline’s determination? Vero moving away? Her hopes for her son? The end?

12. Jacqueline’s story, the 1960s?

13. The happy gathering for Antoine and his family, his parents, their continued love for Carole? The daughters, Rose and Antoine happy together?

14. What was the audience left with – the happy ending of the Canadian story? The mystery of Jacqueline and Laurent and his future?