THE MAN IN A HURRY/ UN HOMME PRESSE

Friend, 2018, 100 minutes, Colour.
Fabrice Luchini, Leila Bekhti, Rebecca Marder, Igor Gottesman.
Directed by Herve Mimran.

This film is based on an actual character and his story, Christian Stieff, the head of Peugeot. He is a workaholic, intense and driven, a widower, neglecting the upbringing of his daughter.

The early part of the film shows him and his intensity, his way of dealing with people, his presumption and self-confidence. However, there are some criticisms within the firm. He suffers a stroke and the latter part of the film is the picture of how he deals, and does not deal, with the effects of the stroke. While he is hospitalised, he is determined to get out, returning to meetings at the phone, intending to go to Geneva for a presentation.

However, his main difficulty is in communication, mixing up the order of words in his communication, mixing up the words themselves and reversing their syllables. There is something of a comic touch on this – and it is manifest in the English subtitles.

This is yet another excellent performance from the versatile French actor, Fabrice Luchini.

To deal with his communication difficulties, Alain has a speech therapist, Jeanne (Leila Bekhti). She knows her craft, is patient with him, finding various ways to help him get his ideas and his words and syllables in order. The film spends some time showing her with her techniques and their affect. (There is also a subplot, not necessary, about Jeanne being adopted and her search for her birth mother.)

Alain does go to Geneva and is successful – although some of the other officials in the company undermine him. He goes to search for a job, is advised to rest rather than work. His daughter cares for him but he fails her when he does not turn up to the speech she has to give for her graduation.

Ultimately, Alain goes on the Camino pilgrimage to Compostela, walking across Spain, meeting ordinary people, in nature, transforming – and then joined by his daughter and sharing the walk.

1. The title? Based on an actual story? The automobile company executive? Busy, hurry, too busy for personal life? Intense, treatment of subordinates? The stroke and the consequences? Therapy?

2. The French setting, the city, home, offices? The streets? Hospital? Rehabilitation? The visit to Geneva? The small details of the streets, offices, Café? The Camino and the Spanish countryside? The musical score? The music from Casablanca?

3. The portrait of Alain? The presence of Fabrice Lucini? In himself, character, on the go, his relationship with the executives, strong-minded, the board meetings, his presentation about the car, the developments, the curve? The preparation for the presentation in Geneva? His executive friend, support, exasperation? Earlier executives and their hostility? Alain and his secretary? The dispute, his being fired?

4. Alain and his background, the death of his wife, his not being present for Julia during her growing up, taking her for granted, her course, her preparation for the presentation, his being on the board to examine her, her diffidence, her requesting him to be present?

5. Alain and his stroke, the initial effect, his refusal to admit what had happened, hospital, the medical treatment? Julia and her support?

6. The importance of rehabilitation? The physical effects of the stroke? The mental effects? Language effects? His getting the order of words wrong, misplacing syllables (and this repeated in the subtitles)? His trying to communicate?

7. Jeanne, her therapy, her skills, working with Alain, her patience, teaching him, techniques, recognising words, cards, red for China…? The bond between them?

8. The subplot of Jeanne, the issue of adoption, searching for her birth mother, the meetings? Confiding in Alain? His agreeing to help?

9. Alain, need for a job, searching for a job, advice to rest, the car industry?

10. The visit to Geneva, Jeanne and her help, his speech, success?

11. Alain, his daily life, the streets, getting lost, the cafe and the waiter? Jeanne searching for him bringing him back? Julia – and her wanting her father to be the speech? His getting lost, knocking on the door? Her fears, walking out on the speech? Reprimanding him?

12. His decision to go on the Camino, his walking, the effect, meeting people? Julia catching up with him? Their walking together?

13. The story based on true life, the Peugeot chief?