JUSTE LE FIN DU MONDE/ IT'S ONLY THE END OF THE WORLD
France/ Canada, 2017, 97 minutes, Colour.
Nathalie Baye, Vincent Cassel, Marion Cotillard, Lea Seydoux, Gaspard Ulliel.
Directed by Xavier Dolan.
It’s Only the End of the World seems an unusual title for this domestic drama.
The film is the work of Xavier Dolan, the extraordinary Canadian director who had made a successful career by his late 20s, winning many awards including awards at the Cannes Film Festival for this film (and also winning the ecumenical award). Dolan has made a number of films about family relationships, How I Killed My Mother, Thomas at the Farm, Laurence Anyways, Mommy, Heartbeats.
Xavier Dolan is also gay and incorporates these themes into his films.
This film was made in France with a very strong French cast with international reputations. Gaspard Ulliel has a very good role as the terminally ill Louis returning after a long time to visit his family – and the audience realising why he has kept away for so long. Nathalie Baye is his fussing mother. Lea Seydoux is the sister whom he does not really know, having been absent as she grew up. Vincent Cassell is very strong – and irritating for the audience as well as for the rest of his family – as the brother who works in a tool shop, dislikes his brother, is moody, wanting to keep silent but outbursts of anger. In many of these are directed towards his rather meek wife, Catherine, played effectively and quietly by Marion Cotillard.
The film is an ensemble piece, taking place over one day, the way in which the family received Louis on his visit, the discussions, his conversation with each of the central characters, the meals, a drive with his brother who is able to express his frustrations and antagonism, an interrupted dessert when the brother insists that Louis needs to leave for another meeting.
The Ecumenical Award citation noted how much character was expressed and communicated by body language, facial expression in gesture rather than in words.
1. The title? Intimations of death? The deprecation of the title, “only�?
2. The work of the director, success and awards, Canadian background, French culture, and a successful career before he turned 30?
3. The French setting, the town, Louis arriving the taxi, the home, the surroundings, the road in the countryside for the car trip, the centre of the town? The authentic feel for the drama? The musical score?
4. Louis and his story? Illness, impending death? The separation from his family? His wanting to re-visit, see people again, go to the scenes of his childhood? His story of waiting at the airport, finally taking the taxi? The encounter with each of the characters? The mixture of emotions with each of them? His tendency to keep quiet? Listening, at the meal, observing the interactions? His mother and her fussing over him? Cooking of the meal? Antoine, his disdain, keeping his distance, outbursts of anger, comparisons from the past, the sibling comparisons and rivalry? Going for the driver with Antoine? His telling the story and to Antoine’s negative reaction, not wanting to listen? Antoine insisting that he leave? His meeting his sister, not knowing her, the possibility of making up for the lost past? The meeting with Catherine, not knowing her, listening to her stories about the children, his reaction to Antoine’s criticisms? Her knowing the truth about him? His decision to leave, his promise to return?
5. The mother, age and experience, fussiness, getting old and absent-minded, her skills in cooking and preparing the food? The delight in seeing Louis, the regrets of his absence? Her relationship with her other children? With Catherine? Fussing at the table, the conversation, Louis wanting to see the old home and her saying that it was sold and in ruins? Her putting up with Antoine’s behaviour? The desert, Antoine insisting that Louis go, her reaction?
6. Suzanne, younger, at home, her relationship with her mother? The antagonism with Antoine? Catherine’s presence? Louis absent for her growing up? The variety of moods, conversations, upsets? The conversations with Louis, getting to know him? At the table? Her not wanting him to go?
7. Catherine, timid, hesitant in speech? Her relationship with Antoine, his domination of her? Her love for her children, telling the stories, Louis listening? Antoine and his continued interventions, putting his wife down? Her staying in the background, yet her sensitivity? Her realising what was wrong with Louis and his asking her to remain silent?
8. A family story, dysfunctional family, love, hatred, antagonisms, rivalries?
