DROLE DE PERE/THE ELEPHANT AND THE BUTTERFLY

Belgium, 2017, 86 minutes, Colour.

Thomas Blanchard, Lina Doillon, Judith Chamla, all Xavier Seron.

Directed by Amerlie van Elmbt.

The French language title indicates the role of the father but with something funny, different… The English title, however, refers to a bedtime story that the little girl asks her father to read, something of a metaphor.

There is a genial atmosphere about this story, about an absent father who has not married the mother, returning and seeing his daughter for the first time, the mother rejecting him but then needing him to babysit their daughter.

Part of the delight of the film is seeing the effect of the little girl on her father, his paternal feelings, sharing the day with her in all kinds of child activities, painting, cooking, outings to the beach, to the fair, having to take her to his home when he loses the keys of the apartment, his needing to go to an interview about his work as a chef, getting his genial brother to look after the little girl. And, ultimately, taking her to his mother’s home and a birthday celebration.

The focus is very much on the little girl, played by Lina Doillon, very effective, appealing to the audience. Thomas Blanchard is able to communicate his bewilderment at encountering his daughter, then his joy in sharing her life.

1. The title? Something funny? Something unusual, the touch of the strange? With the father?
2. A Belgian film, the city settings, homes, streets, parks, country homes? The musical score?
3. The English title, the bedtime story, Elsa and her liking the story, Antoine reading it? The telling during the film, the long interruption, the conclusion? As an image of Elsa and Antoine?
4. Camille, busy, ambitions for an office, her partner, the hurry, the babysitter not answering? Antoine visiting, Camille rejecting him? Becoming desperate, chasing him, urging him to stay with Elsa till the babysitter arrived?
5. Audience picking up the background, Antoine as Elsa’s father, his absence, return, Camille’s attitude? His seeing his daughter, the opportunity to be with her?
6. Antoine and his day with Elsa, at home, getting to know her, her age, toys, drawings, their activities in the house, cooking, painting? Going out? At the fair? At the beach? Audiences enjoying this bonding between father and daughter?
7. Antoine and his own life, the issue of being chef, the ownership of the restaurant, the conditions, his meetings? Going to the institution and settling the woman in? The irony of his losing the keys, going to his home, getting his brother to look after Elsa? Xavier and his being very genial playing with Elsa, minding her?
8. Camille, the phone calls, her concern?
9. Antoine taking Elsa to meet his mother, the rest of the family, his mother’s birthday, the cake, blowing out the candles?
10. Camille, her return, going to the family, showing the birthday, her tensions, talking with Antoine?
11. The experience for Antoine, for Elsa? Future possibilities?