LES COWBOYS
France, 2015, 104 minutes, Colour.
François Damiens, Finnigan Oldfield, Agatha Dronne, Ellora Torchia, John C.Reilly..
Directed by Thomas Bidegain.
This film opens in rural France in the mid-1990s, at a Festival in a town re-creating the American West, rodeos and riding, American songs like The Tennessee Waltz. However, Eric, François Damiens, the central character discovers that his daughter is missing. Thus begins a desperate search.
Eric involves his teenage son in the search which takes them across France and Belgium, the discovery that the missing girl was involved with a local Muslim young man and has probably moved with him. Clues indicate Belgium but further clues, especially after September 11, 2001 that she might have gone to the Middle East or further.
The father is obsessed, leaving his wife whom he suspects of having an affair, involving his son – only for him to collapse and die.
The second part of the film is the son’s search for his sister, taking him to Pakistan, tracking down the young man, accompanied by an American, John C. Reilly, traces of his sister, finding a young woman who can give him some information. After confronting the brother and his being killed, the son is imprisoned, as is the young woman who is accused of collaborating. With the visit of a French official, the two are released, return to France, and marry.
There is a final development where the son traces his sister back to Belgium and encounters her, she not saying anything but indicating that this is the life that she has opted for.
A very well-made and interesting challenging drama about 21st century French situations, the Muslim presence, the echoes of terrorism, and choices being made.
1. The title? The tone? The American tradition in France? The transition of tone to Belgium and to Pakistan?
2. The French settings, the town, the celebrations, memories of the American West? The contrast with the Middle East presence in France? Prejudices? Travelling through France, into Belgium? The contrast with the scenes in Pakistan, the countryside, the deserts, the villages? The musical score?
3. The opening, the family, Alain, his family, Kid, his wife? Being invited to sing, the Tennessee Waltz? The happy atmosphere of the celebration? Overtones of the American West? The mid-1990s?
4. The disappearance of Kelly? The beginning of the story parallel to The Searchers? The effect on Alain, on his wife, and his son? Going to the authorities? Personal searches throughout the town, contacting friends, information, her not being seen? Wanting motivation for her disappearance?
5. The character of Alain, his growing obsession, everything given to the search for his daughter? The effect on his wife, her relationships? Taking his son with him? Interviewing people, Ahmed and his family in the town, news of Kelly’s association with him? Sightings, information, going to Antwerp?
6. The effect on Alain, his return, energy, his death?
7. The son, his age, growing up over the years, the news of 9/11? Terrorism? War in Afghanistan? The role of Pakistan?
8. The son leaving home, the reaction of his mother? His going to Pakistan? His journey, his identity, as a Frenchman in Pakistan? The contacts? The dangers?
9. The American, his enigmatic presence, taking on the son, travel and dangers, leaving him, the dangers? The boy in prison, the American ignoring him?
10. The clues, finding Shazana, with Ahmed? News of Kelly? Kid and his encounter with Ahmed? Death? The arrest, the imprisonment, the authorities, the American coming and leaving? Kid and his sense of abandonment? Sahzana being imprisoned? Being blamed?
11. The French diplomat, Kid getting out, demanding Shahzana presence?
12. The return home, his mother, time passing, the relationship with Shahzana, his son?
13. The visit to Antwerp, going to the shop, seeing Kelly, no words exchanged? Kelly and her opting for the Islamic life?
14. The screenplay leaving all the enigmas for the audience to reflect on? In the light of 20th century history? The beginning of the 21st-century, terrorism?
