UNE VIE MEILLURE/ A BETTER LIFE
France, 2011, 110 minutes, Colour.
Guillaume Canet, Leila Bekhti, Slimane Khetabi.
Directed by Cedric Kahn.
Une Vie Meillure/ A Better Life is quite a moving film, directed by Cedric Kahn. It is also a star vehicle for Guillaume Canet. Canet has emerged as a significant French actor and director. He is supported by a Leila Bekhti who also appeared in The Source. Her young son is played, very effectively, by Slimane Khetabi.
The film opens with great human spirit and the enthusiastic prospect of a better life as Yann, a man who was brought up in an orphanage and in foster homes, realises that he could open a fine restaurant in the countryside. He is encouraged in his work by the young woman, Nadia, who works with him. He also relates very well to her young son, Slimane.
It is too good to be true. After raising loans, proceeding with the building and renovations, working hard, he finds that the inspection fails and he is required to invest more, money which he does not have and which the banks refuse to lend him. He relies on friends for help, and leases the restaurant but the income does not cover the debt. In the meantime, Nadia has gone to Montreal to work and to get more money, but after some time, there is no communication.
In the meantime, there are some fine scenes as Yann has to deal with Slimane, the behavior of a young boy who misses his mother.
Eventually, having sold the restaurant for less than he invested, he uses the money to go to Montreal with the boy, to find the mother, only to discover that she is in prison. However, there is a gleam of hope at the end. All is not quite impossible.
1. An impressive film? Situations? Characters? Facing difficult situations, poverty and getting by in life? Relationships, family?
2. The French setting, town, countryside, the seasons? Restaurants and bars? The building of the restaurant? The banks and financiers’? Living in poverty, squats, crowded accommodation? The contrast with Canada, Montreal, the towns, accommodation, bars, the prison? Realistic settings? Musical score?
3. The title, its seeming to be true in the first part of the film? The beginning of the disasters? The impossibility of making a better life? Compromises? Financial traps? Exploitation? Transition to Canada, being reunited, slim hopes for the future?
4. The introduction to Yann and Nadia, the work, conversation, attraction, going home, meeting Slimane? Everybody getting on well? Respects for a better life?
5. Yann and Slimane playing, discovering the building, for sale, the prospects of a restaurant, getting the furniture and furnishings, big plans? The enthusiasm?
6. Going to the banks, the prospects, the information required, the loans? Proceeding with the building? Ready for success? Failing the inspection and the requirement for more investment?
7. Attempts for loans, mortgages? The possibility of getting the money? The building lapsing? No idea and her love for Yann and Slimane, deciding to go to Montreal, asking Yann to look after her son, time passing, letters not arriving, no information from Canada?
8. Yann and his friends, the lease on the restaurant, trying to see the manager and his refusing, financial desperation? His ultimately having to sign away the restaurant? The money not covering his loan?
9. The difficulties in relating to Slimane? The boy becoming obstreperous, stealing the sneakers, lying, Yann making him take them back, the anti-theft tag going, having to pay for them, making Slimane run around in them? Clashes at meals? The boy running away? Yann losing his temper? Apologies?
10. Accommodation, moving out of the caravan, the ugly accommodation, people complaining, the washing, stealing the food and trying to sell it? The increasing desperation?
11. Yann deciding to take the money, flight of Montreal, taking Slimane, fitting him out with clothes? Passport control, entry into Canada? Nadia’s address, following the leads, interviewing her friend, discovering she was in prison, her not wanting to see them, her finally seeing Yann, persuading her to see her son? The reunion? Yann getting a job? Nadia and her innocence, possibilities of proving this?
12. Glimmer of hope that the end? A realistic story of ordinary people and their struggles for a better life?
