LES NEIGES DU KILIMANDJARO/THE SNOWS OF KILIMANJARO

France, 2011, 90 minutes, Colour.
Ariane Ascaride, Jean- Pierre Darroussin, Gerard Meylan, Marilyne Canto, Gregoire Leprince- Ringuet.
Directed by Robert Guediguian.

A film about goodness, not an easy accomplishment.

Audiences can identify with the central couple in this film and get a lift from what they think and feel – and do – after a challenge to their way of life. And, it has nothing to do with Ernest Hemingway. Mt Kilimanjaro serves as an ideal goal, somewhere exotic but seemingly unattainable. It is also in the title of a popular French song which is sung in the film.

Writer-director, Robert Guediguian has been making fine films for a quarter of a century or more, usually working with his wife, Ariane Ascariade, and friends. It is the same this time. He lives in Marseilles and usually sets his stories there – although he did make a film about Francois Mitterand as well as a film about the French Resistance, The Army of Crime.

We are once again on the Marseilles’ waterfront. Workers are being laid off. Michel (Jean- Pierre Darroussin) is an official but has decided to put his name in the hat for the lottery for retrenchment, against the advice of his close friend,Raoul (Gerard Meylan). He pulls his name out and goes into retirement – which, after a busy life, he doesn’t find easy. However, he is supported by his wife of almost thirty years, Marie- Claire (Ariane Ascaride) who works in care for the homebound. Their married children and grandchildren visit for meals and are concerned.

At a joyous party for their thirtieth anniversary, with some of the retrenched men as guests, they are given a gift of money and a ticket for Kilimanjaro.

It does not end there. Playing cards one night with Raoul and his wife, who is Marie- Claire’s sister, the house is invaded by two burglars who steal their money and the ticket and bind and hurt them. By chance, later, Michel sees a clue which leads him to one of the thieves.

What follows has an enormous effect on Michel and Marie- Claire. The thief is one of the retrenched men, young, with a chip on his shoulder, highly critical of the older generation, the way they managed union matters, their being stuck in the ways of the past. The young man has two little brothers – and their mother couldn’t care less and is away working on a liner.

The goodness in the film is in how the couple deal with their anger, the fierce attitude of, Raoul, the sullenness of the young man and his tirades. The goodness concerns the two young brothers and the decision by Michel and by Marie-Claire?, separately, to come to the support of the boys (despite the hostile response of their own son and daughter who want attention for their children).

The audience is immersed in the life of this part of Marseilles. The performances are fine. And the picture of kindness in human nature is positive and hopeful.

1. The film based on work by Victor Hugo? His perspectives on happiness and the poor? A film about goodness and social awareness?

2. Robert Guediguian and his themes, the Marseilles setting, the waterfront, poverty and middle class, communities, family?

3. The atmosphere of Marseilles, the focus on the waterfront, the workplace, the cruise ships, industry? Homes, the police precincts, the streets? A sunny Marseilles? The musical score?

4. The title, the song, the talk about Kilimanjaro, a goal, the possibility and impossibility of going there? The fact that Michel and Marie- Claire did not see it?

5. The industrial background, Michel and Raoul, the lottery, the men having to leave, retrenchments? Michel and his decision, putting his name in the box, it being drawn out, Raoul’s disapproval? Marie- Claire and her happy acceptance of the reality?

6. The portrait of the family, Michel and Marie- Claire, thirty years married, their love for each other, knowing and understanding each other? Michel at work, out of work, at home, wanting something to do? Marie- Claire and her nursing training, her care for the home-bound, the rebuke from the woman’s daughter? Her care for the old woman, the old woman ringing at any time, her conversations with Michel? The children, Flo and her husband, child? His being absent, her concern? Her serious approach to life? Especially about her father’s retrenchment? Gilles, his children, his wife, his concern? His father building the pergola? The home settings? The friendship with Raoul’s friendship with Denyse, the two sisters, the bonds? The visit – and the two women dancing? The men talking, old friends, confidants?

7. The party, the invitation to the men retrenched, the celebration, the speeches, Marie- Claire, Michel? Tender? The cake and the children? The gift of the money, the plane tickets to Kilimanjaro?

8. At home, playing cards, the four easy with each other, the robbers intruding, masked, hitting Michel and the others, Michel’s fall? Denyse and her being very upset, the taking the cash, the pressure to find the money, the credit cards? The young man waiting for the call of the other robber? The aftermath, their being tied up all night?

9. The transition of the narrative to Christophe, his retrenchment, being at the party, his angers, the robbery and his reasons? Jules and Martin, his care for them, the absent mother? His clash with his mother? Her wanting the good life, being ditched by two men, left with the children, her abandoning everyone? Going on the cruise ship? The stealing of Michel’s precious comic, the gift from Raoul? Christophe and his use of the money, paying the bills? Agnes as a good neighbour, the food, looking after the children?

10. Michel and the comic, talking with the police, seeing the boys in the tram with the comic, following them? The interrogation of Christophe, Michel going into the room, Christophe being defiant, insulting Michel about his selfishness? Michel hitting him? Marie- Claire and her reaction? The police and their reactions? Later being wary about allowing Michel to speak with Christophe at the court? Yet his talking with him, Christophe’s anger, his talk about the poor, jobs, opportunities, the middle class? The effect on Michel, his thinking things over, discussions with Marie- Claire, wondering if Christophe was right? Christophe and his being dumped by the other thief – who took most of the money? Getting the plane tickets back, the refund?

11. Michel and Marie- Claire and their reflection, the money, the refund, Marie- Claire going to see the boys, making friends with them, with Agnes? Her going out at night, pretending that she had nursing jobs? Cooking for the boys? Their bonding with her? Taking them for the swim? Michel, the refund, thinking that he should give the money to the boys? Finding Marie- Claire with the boys, their agreement?

12. The family reaction, Gilles and Flo and their negative response? Concern for their own children? Raoul and his severity with Christophe, wanting a harsh sentence? Reconciling with Michel? Denyse getting over her trauma, bringing the tiramisu? The reconciliation all round?

13. A film about goodness in human nature?