MARVIN/ REINVENTING MARVIN
France, 2017, 115 minutes, Colour.
Finnegan Oldfield, Gregory Gadebois, Vincent Macaigne, Katherine Salee, Jules Perrier, Catherine Mouchet, Charles Berling, Isabelle Huppert.
Directed by Anne Fontaine.
Anne Fontaine has directed quite a number of striking French films ranging from Coco before Chanel to the fine drama of Polish nuns and a French Communist Dr during World War II in Les Innocentes.
This film is based on a biography by an actual actor but then fictionalised. The French title is simply Marvin with the English title adding, forcefully for the theme, Reinventing.
The film is set into time eras and moves between them, the story of Marvin as a little boy in the town, living with his tough and rough family, being bullied at school, homophobic bullying (but with some of the boys acting out sexual behaviour). He has a young friend in the town and she is supportive. The new principal of the school encourages him in performance. He then gets a scholarship to leave the town and go to Paris to study acting.
Marvin goes to Paris, meet some actors who support him, does some training, acknowledges his sexual orientation. This is a particular the case when he meets an older man, played by veteran Charles Berling, who takes him under his wing, even pays for dental work. Marvin also goes to the theatre, especially a performance where the men appear naked, his being intrigued.
His patron is killed in a car accident but has introduced him to Isabelle prepare, playing herself. She tells Marvin that his patron asked her to help him, they rehearse a performance which he has written dramatising, often verbatim, incidents from his childhood, especially the reaction of his parents. Ultimately, the two perform his play on stage to some acclaim. He also writes up the story and it is published.
Marvin, changing his name to Martin Clements (after the encouraging principle), goes to visit his family who are critical of the book – but has quite a moving scene where he reconciles with his father.
Finnegan Oldfield gives a strong performance as the adult Marvin. And it is intriguing to see Isabelle prepare playing a version of herself.
- The French title? Focus solely on Marvin? The English title and Marvin’s life, choices, progress?
- The French town, homes, poor neighbourhoods, streets, school, classrooms, halls and theatre? The musical score?
- The two time frames, the intercutting? Marvin as a boy, at school, at home, bullied? Marvin going to drama school, life in Paris, friends, theatre, relationships, his play?
- A strong film about bullying, homophobic bullying, at school, behaviour by schoolboys? Non-understanding and non-acceptance by families? Homophobic presuppositions? Marvin, his experience at school, faggot, the reaction of the boys, even sexual behaviour? Marvin and the puzzle, his own identity, fascination with watching the naked men dancing? Able to cope or not? The audience seeing the younger Marvin in the retrospect memories and flashbacks of the older Marvin?
- The family, the bullying older brother, the little brother, the sister emerging later in the film, the mother, the touch of slatternly, her talk about giving birth? Dany, rough, at home, his work, prejudices? The dialogue of the various home sequences and Marvin remembering, incorporating them into his play, performance, his taking every voice?
- Classes, Marvin mocked, talking with the young girl, playfully fighting with her? The new principal, stances, interest in theatre, driving Marvin home – not to his house? Encouraging Marvin with theatre, his performances, the application, her congratulations, the family not giving him the letter?
- Marvin, leaving home, the train ride, memories, hopes? The theatre, the training? Meeting Abel and Peter? Abel and his art, his philosophy of life, influencing Marvin? The couple encouraging him, taking him in? Marvin and his going to the clubs, the fascination, the encounter with Roland, the older man, inviting him home, Marvin not staying, yet returning, Roland and his encouragement, sexual encounters, paying for dental reconstruction? The visit to the theatre, the naked men in performance? The discussions afterwards with Marvin and friends?
- Roland introducing him to Isabelle Huppert, the actresses herself, the meetings, the discussions, the club, dancing, encouraging Marvin? Listening to his dialogue? Eventually acting with him, the performance and the response, the reviews? The news of Roland’s death and Isabelle agreeing to look after him?
- The media, critical of Marvin and his family, his changing his name to Martin Clements, the decision to visit home, the reaction of his sister, animosity, the reaction of his mother, the separation from Dany, his going to visit his father, the sympathetic response, his father proud of him, the conversation, Marvin and his book and the inscription, leaving it on the train? A sense of reconciliation in the conversation with his father?
- Marvin’s future – success?
