KNOCK/ DR KNOCK

France, 2017, 114 minutes, Colour.
Omar Sy, Alex Lutz, Ana Girardot, Sabine Azema, Andrea Ferreol, Pascal Elbe, Helene Vincent, Rufus.
Directed by Lorraine Levy.

While this is a very watchable film, there is a certain uneasiness underlying the response. It concerns the conman, the nature of frauds, the effect on victims of the cons. One of the descriptions to use the central character in the original novel on which this film is based is that of “charlatan�, which is a bit more derogatory than “conman�.

The film is very, as the French might say “geniale�, and so is Knock, the conman. But there is the underlying question, when is a conman a rogue and when is he a helpful row.

The original novel was to written in the 1920s, adapted for theatre, filmed as something of a classic in 1951. The setting in this version is the 1950s, with reference to memories of World War II.

Knock is played by Omar Sy, who made such an impression in The Intouchables as well as Samba and Two is a Family (also appearing in Jurassic World and an X-Men? film). Sy can’t help but be charming – although at first he is seen being pursued by criminals to whom he owes money and being bashed. He gets away from them, taking a job on a boat to India, standing in, with the Captain’s consent, as a doctor. He has some success with patients and learns a lot, returning to Marseille in order to study medicine.

The bulk of the film takes place five years later in a very attractive Alpine village (beautifully filmed in widescreen format). He is still the conman, even though qualified, and his goal is to make money even as he helps people. And, help people he does, contrasting with the previous doctor who gave them herb teas. He gets in pleasant cahoots with the pharmacist who is not against making money either, nor his wife who becomes infatuated with Knock. At first he offers free consultations – with long lines coming. He is able to talk easily with people, the alcoholic postman, the rather harridan manager of a farm, a rich old lady, all the locals, in fact, so that business thrives.

However, he has a flair for understanding human nature and being able to persuade the patients to help themselves. So far, so good.

The young parish priest, Alex Lutz, takes in immediate dislike to Knock. He undermines him, contradicts him, accuses him of being a liar, is on the alert to catch him out at any cost, utilising gossip and some information from the confessional to denounce him, the exact opposite of the classic “Diary of a Country Priest� by Georges Bernanos, which was screening in France in those years. This makes the film anti-clerical, (anti-clericalism having a strong French tradition), the character giving just grounds for anti-clerical responses.

There is a dramatic crisis as Knock helps a serving girl with tuberculosis, the priest capitalising on a ceremony in the church for a final confrontation with Knock, but the congregation, the townspeople turning against the priest and supporting Knock.

Entertaining, a number of the characters in the town being rather stereotyped, a more sentimental interpretation of the conman – that is the nature of the conman’s charm.

1. The status of this film, the novel as a classic, stage adaptation, the 1951 film?

2. The 1950s, Marseilles, ships to India, the Alps, the villages, St Maurice? The town, the atmosphere, shops, hotels, the church? The countryside and its atmosphere? The musical score?

3. The title, the focus on Knock? Omar Sy and his screen presence? Charm?

4. The issue of the conman, the rogue, the charlatan, with his charm? The impact on victims?

5. The opening, Knock and the pursuit, his owing money, his being bashed? Going to the ship, interview with the Captain, signing on as the doctor?

6. Typhus, the sick man, Knock using his wits? The man healing? The woman and her sunburn, creating the lotions? The effect? His popularity?

7. Five years passing, his studies for medicine in Marseilles? His taking of the country doctor position, his aims, making money, compensating for his past? Formal dress, his manner, the right of the station, the local doctor and his wife, the race issue barely mentioned?

8. The town, the pharmacist, the doctor and his prescribing herb teas, the issue of money, the pharmacist wanting to make money, his wife supporting him? Knock and his plans, the discussions? Befriending the postman, helping him with his alcoholism?

9. The free consultations, the postman announcing them, the crowds lining up, Knock and his manner, listening, the range of illnesses, real and imagined, his fees and the different rates because of incomes? The word of mouth, his medical help, his personal counselling and help?

10. Madame Remy, her experiences of the war, anti-German? His apartment, her help, the building of the clinic, the joy the building of the clinic – and the visit of the former doctor and his amazement?

11. The clients, the woman from the farm and her domination, her worries, his treatment, visiting her, the effect, her work, coping with illness? The rich lady, her interest, Knock and his helping her, her endorsement?

12. Going to the school, talking to the children, the reaction of the teacher, the townspeople coming to listen to him, the applause?

13. The mayor, his support, his assistant with his stammer?

14. Adele, nice, her being bullied on the farm, the cough, tuberculosis, Knock and his wanting to save her, in love with her, the lyrical scene on the mountains? His revealing the hardships of his past? Getting her to the sanatorium? The kiss as she left? His visiting her in the sanatorium?

15. The character of the priest, his age, his being anti-Knock, in the bar, talking with people, the constant critique, his jealousy, the denunciations, hearing the confession, taking the information out of the confessional, the confrontation with the mayor, the mayor rejecting him? His behaviour at the funeral, the denunciation of Knock?

16. The women in the town, attracted to Knock, the pharmacist’s wife and her seduction scene, the mayor dismissing this because of his own experience?

17. Adele, charming, in the sanatorium, Knock’s visit, the news of her death?

18. The funeral, the priest bitter, the reaction of the congregation, denouncing the priest, Knock and his packing up, intending to leave, the townspeople stopping him? A happy future?