TOUS S’EST BIEN PASSE/ EVERYTHING WENT FINE

France, 2021, 113 minutes, Colour.

Sophie Marceau, Andre Dussolier, Geraldine Pailhas, Charlotte Rampling, Eric Caravaca, Hanna Schygulla, Gregory Gadebois.

Directed by François Ozon.

A film which explores themes of ageing, illness, issues of assisted suicide. Well worth seeing and reflecting on. It has been written and directed by François Ozon, who has been making significant films for a quarter of a century.

(But, a criticism, not of the film itself, but on the Americanised translation of its title. The French says that everything went well. Now the adjective fine is used, American-wise, as an adverb, a rather off-putting colloquialisiing of language.)

Towards the end of the film, the old man, Andre Bernheim (with actor, Andre Dussolier, perfectly embodying an 85-year-old, the effect of strokes, hospitalisation, cantankerous disposition, demanding on his daughters) remarks that his story could be the subject of one of his daughter’s novels. In fact, this is the case. The film is based on a novel by Emmanuele Bernheim, played by Sophie Marceau with a blend of compassion and exasperation. And, the names of the central characters, of the whole family, are their real names.

Emmanuele is a novelist, middle-aged, living with cinema entrepreneur, Serge, close to her sister, Pascal (Geraldine Pailhas) and her children. Their mother, Claude, Charlotte Rampling, is a sculptress, ageing, years suffering from depression. Their parents have long separated – this theme revealed rather later in the film and highlighting quite some complexities.

Ordinary life is suddenly interrupted when Andre has a series of strokes, hospitalised, under care. He is not an exemplary patient, not even a good patient. While the illness takes its toll, he begins to recover, even able to participate in some past activities, a meal out, his grandson’s recital. But, the effect on his mind is a realisation that he does not want to live. He demands assisted dying.

This means that the audience has to check its own attitude towards assisted dying, assisted suicide, legislation in particular countries, here France, where hospital authorities have to take care, where police can intervene. Switzerland offers opportunities for assisted dying. There is something of a jolting sequence where Emmanuele asks the cost and is told that it is $10,000, plus ambulance transport – and wonders how people can afford this, her father nonchalantly noting that they have to wait till death comes.

While the family has a Jewish background, religious ethics are not part of the consideration. Rather, the focus is on a general outlook on living rather than dying, on some kind of palliative consideration, of encouraging life-giving activities. This does provide some moral dilemmas for the two daughters.

The screenplay goes into some detail about associations for assisted dying, a character, a lady from Switzerland (German veteran Hanna Schygulla) visits Paris, visits Andre, discusses with Emmanuelle, Andre having to talk onto phone camera declaring his wish to die, arranges for Andre to come to Bern.

There are some moments of humour in the story. There are many moments of pathos. There are complications with the attitude of Claude and the memories of her marriage. There are complications with an intrusive friend from the past and the audience discovering the sexual orientation of Andre.

So, this is a presentation of an actual case, raising the issue of assisted dying in the context of a secular perspective on life and death, in the context of restrictive legislation and practice, in the context of availability for assisted dying in Switzerland, offering the audience an opportunity to empathise, understand, agree or disagree.

1. The title, As spoken by the Swiss lady at the end, Andre’s death? (And the Americanised adjectives/adverb, fine in the title?)
2. Themes of ageing, illness, aged care, dependency, psychological attitudes, wanting death, death choices, medication, palliative care, assisted suicide, euthanasia?
3. A true story, the use of names of all the members of the family, actual names? The lines of dialogue with the father suggesting his story would be good for one of Emanuelle’s novels? The film based on the book by Emmanuele Bernheim?
4. The work of François Ozon, his range of themes, relationships, family, parents and children, homosexuality? The strong French cast?
5. The gradual buildup of the story, especially for audiences not knowing the developments? The introduction to Emmanuelle, at home, her being a writer, her relationship with Serge, his role with cinema? The call to the hospital, her contacting Pascal? At the hospital, reaction, their father’s condition, the MRI, the consequences, his disabilities, his vomiting, discontent?
6. Emmanuele, older, having to take many of the responsibilities, her willingly taking them on? Yet her memories of her father, her eating, his criticisms, his later saying she was an ugly girl, seeing her as the equivalent of a son, and her own exercise and boxing? Using her judgment, coping with the situation, discussions with the doctors?
7. The portrait of Andre, 85, his life, the arts, wealth, his marriage to Claude, the later revelation of his homosexuality, his criticisms of her parents and their refusal to come to the wedding? Gerard and the relationship? Gerard, the girls nicknaming him Shithead, his hovering, intruding with Andre, Andre not wanting to see him, the confrontation with the daughters, his intrusion? His getting the watch? The grief, sitting at Andre’s knee, leaving? And the irony of his reporting them to the police?
8. Andre, in hospital, impatient, his condition, the medication, transfers? The old man in the adjacent bed, calmer, criticisms, his talking with Emmanuele? Going home?
9. Claude, her physical condition, age, depression? Sculptures? Her wilfulness in marrying Andre, loving him? Her work as a sculptress, the flashback to Emmanuelle watching her, explanation of the colour grey? Her sculptures in her room? Seeing her husband, the tension between them, her finding out about his choice, her relationship with her daughters?
10. Pascal, her life, going to meetings, music, her children, Raphael, the visit to Andre, Andre spoiling him, the clarinet, his recital, Andre staying alive to see it, nodding off during it?
11. His wanting to die, French law, the role of the police, the hospital and responsibility? The Internet search, the Association for assisted dying, the Swiss contact, the phone call to the lady in Switzerland, her background, legal, retired, her friend founding the Association, asking Emmanuele for the money for the trip, coming to Paris, the discussions with Emmanuelle, the explanations, visiting Andre, the arrangements? The cost of $10,000 plus the ambulance to Bern? His comment of wondering how poor people can manage – and Emmanuele saying death came to them?
12. The various reactions, Pascal being unwilling, Emmanuelle wanting to delay it, the cousins from America arriving and protesting? Gerard and his protest? Andre talking so freely?
13. The audience understanding Andre’s motivation, his physical condition, psychological condition, wanting to die? Yet improving, the medication, mobility, going to the final dinner with Emmanuelle and Serge, going to Raphael’s recital? Yet reminding them of the appointment, demanding the dates, changing the dates?
14. Pascal, not wanting this, but adapting, collaboration with Emmanuelle?
15. Serge, the bonding with Emmanuelle, support, his work, visiting Andre, Andre calling him his son? The emergency, with Andre, their fall?
16. Everything planned, the hospital interrogations? The sisters going to the police, the previous visits to the lawyer, getting the phone recording of Andre, the second and his expressing his desire to die? The lawyer advising them to tell the truth, the crosscutting of their interrogations, the consistency of their witness? Being let go?
17. The ambulance arriving, the farewells to their father, the pills, his travel, the mountains, the restaurant, the Muslim driver not wanting to continue, the other man, partly religious, delivering Andre?
18. The sisters, the night, the vigil, the drinking, sleepover? On the phone call that all went well?
19. The vivid portrait of a family, strong characters, disagreeable characters, interactions, bad parenting, age, illness, sexual orientation, assisted dying?