INSEPARABLES

Argentina, 2016, 108 minutes, Colour.

Oscar Martinez, Roderigo de la Serna, Alejandro Flechner, Carla Peterson.

Directed by Marcos Carnevale.

This film was based on an original story, the care for a wealthy quadriplegic ‘n is French-Algerian carer. Originally, there was a documentary, 2003,A la vie, a la mort.

However, the story became a worldwide celebration with the French version of the film, Les Intouchables, many nominations many awards, including the best actor for Omar Sy. He played the carer and veteran French actor, François Cluezet, played the quadriplegic. The two actors work very well off each other, the comedy, the serious aspects, the interdependence.

There have been a number of remakes, an Indian version, Oopari, an American version, The Upside, with Kevin Hart and Bryan Cranston as the two, and with Nicole Kidman. The present film is the Argentinian version, the same story but with a strong Latin flavour.

Veteran actor, Oscar Martinez, plays Felipe, the quadriplegic, often very serious, but with very many sequences of him grinning and laughing. The carer, this time an Argentinian, with a background of bank robbery and prison, is played by Roderigo do la Serna (the associate of Che Guevara in The Motorcycle Diaries, and, surprisingly after seeing him here, playing the young Jorge Bergoglio, and Pope Francis, in the 2016 drama of his life, They Call me Francis.)

The film follows the original in some detail, the crankiness of the quadriplegic and his search for carers, his whim in taking on the carer, here called Tito, listening to his views of music in his frankness and demands, teaching him something about art and personal response, a sequence with chamber music in a wide range of classics and Tito’s response to their application but his turning the occasion into a Latin rumba, the chamber Orchestra joining in.

Key to the film are Felipe’s loyal assistant and secretary, Yvonne, the gardener, and the secretary, Veronica, who becomes the subject of Tito’s amorous attentions – but who thwarts him at the end with her personal relationships.

Each version had a touch of the rowdy, especially through the characters who played the carer. At first, some audiences might find Tito rather irritating but, in his attention to Felipe, the bond between them, some comic sequences, he becomes more likeable.

1. Based on a true story, the original documentary, the original French film, Intouchables, the American remake, Upside, the Indian remake, Oopari? Comparisons?
2. The true story of the quadriplegic wealthy man, Felipe, his need for an assistant, his observations of Tito, Tito is feisty with the gardener, feisty about his pay, Felipe liking him, offering him the job?
3. The character of Felipe, background, accident, widower, his daughter and her wilfulness and problems, quadriplegic, confined to his chair, in need of help, Yvonne as his loyal assistant, members of the household, the gardener, Veronica?
4. The character of Tito, background, robbery, jail, his mother and her criticisms, his visit, her ousting him, the glimpse of the rest of the family? Getting a job, concerned about money? Carefree attitudes, the true story of his parents, his mother’s death, his aunt bring him up, his younger brother and his criminal life? Drugs? Lack of responsibility?
5. The opening, the speed, the police, the bets, to hospital, the joke? The flashback?
6. Felipe and the effect of having Tito, humour, continually laughing, the correspondence with the attractive woman, the photo, her cards, the date and its awkwardness? The domestic scenes, the bath, clothing…? Felipe and his dependence? Tito, the response, friendship, jokey, making Felipe laugh? The scenes about the paintings and their costs, his criticism, the $11,000? The musical evening, the range of chamber music, Tito and his comments about what each evoked, his taking over with the rumba music, the dancing, the chamber orchestra joining in?
7. Tito and his flirting with Veronica, the scenes between them, his asking Eve on about Veronica talking? And the final revelation of Veronica and her relationship?
8. Tito, likeable, Felipe liking him, but wanting him to have a further career, letting him go, the interviews with the prospective carers, their behaviour, inadequacies, his nightmares, waking, Yvonne helping, Tito returning?
9. Tito in the setting up of the beach, the date?
10. Tito and his brother, care, telling the truth to Felipe? Helping the family?
11. A cheerful look at a serious subject?