SMALL WORLD/ JE N’EST RIEN OUBLIE

France, 2010, 93 minutes, Colour.
Gerard Depardieu, Alexandra Maria Lara, Françoise Fabian, Niels Arestrup, Nathalie Baye, Yannick Renier, Fyodor Atkine.
Directed by Bruno Chiche.

Small World is an interesting and complex family drama, based on a story by Swiss writer, Martin Sutor.

Alexandra Maria Lara portrays a young woman marrying into a wealthy family, dominated by matriarch, Françoise Fabian. Her grandson is the husband. The wedding is gatecrashed by the home handyman, a long time friend of his father, Thomas (Niels Arestrup), having been brought up with him. He is a boozy man, Konrad (Gerard Depardieu) in a very strong performance.

Konrad is welcomed into the house, and cared for because it seems that he is suffering from initial dementia. The young wife becomes more friendly with him, listening to his stories, which he repeats because he does not recognise her day by day. And the stories contrast with those told by the grandmother.

Eventually, some photos are found, which support the stories told by Konrad rather than the grandmother and an emotional crisis is precipitated.

1. A family story? Love, harshness? The twists?

2. The strong cast and performances?

3. The opening on the cliffs, Konrad, going to the house, in the mansion, setting fire to the house?

4. The flashbacks, the two boys and their childhood, playing, their names, interchanging them?

5. The introduction to Konrad, his drinking, in the house, the fire, burning? The reactions? Thomas saying he did not miss it?

6. The family and the occasion, the wedding, the continuity of the family? Thomas, his mother? Simone, her husband, the relationship? Konrad’s arrival, the reactions? Thomas against him, his mother for him? The behaviour the husband, Simone seeing him, her concern?

7. Konrad, his age, experience, on the outer, his name, the encroaching dementia, his drinking, his memories and confusion? Thomas’ behaviour? His memories and the reaction to Miss Berg, Simone stealing the photos, getting Konrad to talk, his response? The clash with Thomas? The truth about Miss Berg? Simone and her change?

8. Thomas, his character, arrogance?

9. The husband, with the girl, his lies, his attack on Simone?

10. Simone, nice, why marrying her fiancé, her place in the family, fond of Konrad, helping him, meals, talking, the focus of the truth?

11. Admitting the truth, Miss Berg and her plans, marrying her husband, his death, bringing her child in as the heir? Rejecting Konrad?

12. Thomas, discovering the truth, his response to Konrad?

13. Simone, pregnancy, the test, the intervention of the mother, the upset, the separation?

14. Konrad and what was to become of him, the title, the enclosed world?