OF LOVE AND LIES/ FOURMI
France, 2019, 105 minutes, Colour.
François Damiens, Maleaume Paquin, Andre Dussollier, Ludivine Sagnier, Laetitia Dosch, Pierre Gomme.
Directed by Julien Rappeneau.
It is being complimentary, but it must be said that this is very nice film. It is the equivalent of a fairytale in contemporary life. And the focus is football.
We visit a small French town, especially the local football team for young boys, the sympathetic coach (veteran Andre Dussollier), the President of the club, sponsors, and the initial match where a young boy, Theo (a very engaging Maleaume Paquin), small but very effective during the play. And there are some scouts for British club, Arsenal, who have a talk with Theo praising him but saying he is too short to be recruited.
But, of course, all the adults assume that he is being recruited and are delighted. Theo hasn’t the heart to tell the truth, especially to tell his very boisterous, intruding on the field, erratic father, an alcoholic (a lively, sympathetic performance by Francois Damiens). His parents separated, his mother with her stepfather whom Theo does not relate well with. He wants to live with his father – and this gives the opportunity, his father eager to prepare him for going to England, eager to go with his son. So, plenty of room for comedy of errors.
Theo has some good friends in the town, confiding in one, but generally keeping his secret. But he does go to an eccentric friend, Max, an IT expert, who is able to manipulate emails allegedly from Arsenal, reports, results of interviews…
It all goes well enough for Theo except the burden of his not telling the truth. Ultimately, the truth will out. The scout comes back to watch the boys playing, the dismay of everyone concerned, the club president and his appeal for sponsors because of Theo’s talent, the coach and his assistant, but, especially, Theo’s father who has been helped by a busy social worker and has stopped drinking, but falls off the wagon, involved in a fight.
The friends help in their way, his father gives a lot of thought to the situation and meets his son, urging him to come back and play and the local club match – where, as in all good fairytales, Theo is able to kick a winning goal. And an invitation from Arsenal.
Plenty of happiness despite the deception – and a touch of tears.
- A contemporary fairytale? In real life? In wishful hoping?
- The setting, the French town, homes, school, football clubs, restaurants, social work? The football games? The musical score?
- Theo’s story, his age, his parents, the break, his alcoholic father, his devotion to him, his mother, marrying again, not liking his stepfather? His skill at football? Claude as coach, other members of the club, the boys? His skills? The talent scout for Arsenal, noting him, the conversation? Everybody assuming that he was chosen? His not wanting to disappoint his father? The love and the lies?
- The portrait of the Father, background, love for his son, separation, interactions with his wife, meetings with his son, their sharing, talking, the son wanting to live with him? His son wanting to please him? His enthusiasm, at the football matches, shouting and intruding, being barred? His zest with his son’s success, friends, drinking?
- Theo and his mother, the discussion with his stepfather and his firm stance?
- The social worker, her job, harassed, with Laurent, the discussions, her interventions, his pleading about court orders, the visits, the friendship, her exasperation, being fired?
- Theo and his friends, confiding in each other, the issue is not telling the truth? His friendship with Max, Max and his IT abilities, his interventions, rerouting letters, interviews…?
- Theo, his life, the discovery of the truth, the effect on everyone, his father and his disappointment, drinking, his parents, the friends, Romane and her disappointment? Staying by himself, not coming to the match, Claude and his support?
- His father searching for him, Romane and her help, their talk, his return to the match, the skills?
- The fairytale aspects, Max and his interventions, the talent scout coming again, talking, the Theo had grown taller, the contract? The happy ending?
- His father content, his mother going to England with Theo, hopes for the future?
