JUST TO BE SURE/ OTEZ-MOI D'UNE DOUTE

France, 2017, 100 minutes, Colour.
François Damiens, Cecile De France, Guy Marchand, Andre Wilms, Alice de Lencquesaing, Esteban.
Directed by Carine Tardieu.

This light drama has been highly touted as very popular at the French box office. While it is a pleasant entertainment, it is a comparatively ordinary film. (Some French reviewers have referred to it as “hilarious� which might indicate the French sense of humour is very different from other senses of humour!)

Not that there is not plenty to enjoy. The title is provocative – and refers to themes of paternity which are explored in several different ways throughout the film.

The central character is Erman (François Damiens), a working man in his mid-40s, an expert in bomb disposal and active along the Brittany coast, finding remainders from World War II. He leads a squad who generally have to detonate the bombs they discover but also risk dangers, especially from mines in farming fields. Erman is a widower, fond memories of his wife, devoted to his father, an ageing man who loves going out on his boat and needs medical clearances to continue to do so. Erman also has a daughter, Juliet, aged 22, pregnant and declaring she does not know who the father is.

First paternity problem.

There are quite some complications when Erman and his daughter go to the doctor to check on whether they are carrying a disease which has carried off family members in the previous generation. And so, the main paternity problem. It would seem that Erman’s sailing father is not actually his father. What to do? Try to find out the truth? Let it be? He even asks the rather awkward young man, Didier (Esteban) whom his daughter has persuaded him to take on for a job - which he does not do well.

There is an amusing sequence when he goes to a private detective – a rather older woman with an acerbic tongue. But she does the job and for the rest of the film, we can rather enjoy Erman’s searching out his actual father, their encounters, the bond between them.

Another part of the plot is the fact of Erman being upset when a driver hits a boar on the road during the night. She is Anna, Cecile de France, a doctor, who is able to put the boar down. Later, Erman sees her in the town, is very much attracted, invites her to dinner. But then there is a further paternity complication – which the trailer unfortunately reveals but which will not be revealed here.

So, paternal complications, the role of the two fathers, the discovery of Juliet’s baby’s father (not too difficult), the possibility of a romance between Erman and Anna, the birth of the baby…

On the whole, the film has a rather gentle sense of humour, rather than hilarious, and there are some serious moments as well as, towards the end and the birth of the baby, some farcical moments.

And so, the meaning of the title, just being sure who is who – and how.

1. The title, tone? Themes? Paternity issues?

2. Brittany, the countryside, the sea and the beaches, cliffs? The town, streets, hospital, offices? The range of sites and explosions? Here?

3. The serious tone as well as the comic? The range of the School, even the opening, The Magic Flute and the patter song? Resumed at the end? Contemporary songs?

4. Erman’s story, in his 40s, bomb disposals, seeing him in action, with his team, the dangers, robots and going out into the field, explosions? Widower, memories of his wife? His daughter, her pregnancy, his reactions, no father? The visit with Juliet to the doctor, the discussion about the hereditary disease, the issue of paternity? Going to the private detective, her manner, getting results? The father who brought him up, old, working on the boats, wanting a health clearance? His dilemma as to whether to seek out the birth father? Asking Didier? His experience of the shock?

5. The decision to visit Joseph, following him, in the car, the supermarket, helping him? The dog? The discussions, the co-looking at the photos? Lots of reminiscing? Bastien marrying his wife while she was pregnant? Knowing? Erwan and his befriending Joseph, the dog, Pinochet and the jokes? The coincidence of meeting Anna, her being Joseph’s daughter, the attraction?

6. Work on the site, the range of friends, the gatherings? Didier, Juliet getting him work? Slow? The father wearing the Zorro mask? Discovering Didier’s mask? Erwan asking Didier to post the documents? The discussions about Juliet? Didier willing to take responsibility? On the crane, the declaration, the effect on Bastien? His being present at the birth, not holding the baby? Registering as the father?

7. Juliet, her age, tough, alone, the one night stand? Commenting on the date with her father? Anger, leaving home, going to Bastien? The water breaking, the taxi to the hospital, the birth? The baby, Didier? Father and grandfather present?

8. The accident on the road, the boar? Anna, killing the boar, Erwan’s reaction? Seeing her as a doctor, in the street, the client who was always talking about Hitler in Brazil? Erwan talking, inviting her to dinner? Meeting her at Joseph’s home, the discovery that she was his sister? His abrupt manner with her, the dinner, Anna asking him about freezing around women? His father, the boat, her presence, the picnic, his abrupt behaviour? Their going to the doctor to check on the DNA?

9. Bastien, nice, a good father, widower? On the boat, getting the clearance to sail, going to Anna, inviting her onto the boat? His knowing about his wife’s pregnancy before marrying her? Didier is telling everybody and the truth from the crane? Bastien and his going to hospital, holding the baby?

10. Erwan, the effect, the time given to the two fathers, the outings with Joseph, at the stall and the woman robbing them with the change – and the later revenge? Joseph’s collapse, hospital? The clash with Juliet? What Erwan learnt from Bastien and his great qualities?

11. The finale, DNA, the hotel, the results, the romantic future?