A GREAT FRIEND/ LES CHOSES SIMPLES

France, 2023, 95 minutes, Colour.

Lambert Wilson, Gregory Gadebois, Marie Elaine.

Directed by Eric Besnard.

Two titles but with very different emphases. On the one hand, we are expecting to see a growing friendship between two rather different characters – and this happens. On the other hand, there is a prologue starting with plankton and early forms of life in the sea building up to enormous complexities in the cosmos, on Earth, in humans building up our contemporary world which is far from the simple things of the French title.

By the end of the film, having shared the journey with the two men, having observed the complexities of modern life as well as possible escapes to the simple things, we have been asked to think about our own lives, what is of value, what we can let go of, what do we really want without lives.

The film opens in the Alps, majestic scenery which we can contemplate throughout the film. An impatient businessman, Vincent (played by veteran actor Lambert Wilson), seemingly stranded when his car breaks down on a remote road, but a biker, Pierre (Gregory Gadebois who can be seen in a very different rule in The Sitting Duck) a gruff loner, offers to help.

Vincent, in fact, is one of the huge movers and shakers in French society, even on an international level. With experience of some solitude in the mountains, sharing a meal with Pierre, we might wonder whether this is going to be something of an equivalent of a Camino experience, a pilgrim alone in the countryside, discovering his inner self.

Well, not quite.

In fact, while Vincent is exactly what he seems, Pierre is not. And, however unlikely it seems at the beginning of the film, with a great deal of sparring and moments of antagonism, there will be a friendship. One of the means of opening up the friendship is Vincent’s discovery that Pierre looks after his widowed sister-in-law, his niece, and does have some social life – and charm. On the other group  hand, while Vincent’s charm is often very obvious, he is a much more devious character.

Yes, this is the story of a friendship which might eventually be great. But, it is also a questioning of contemporary values, life in our busy cutthroat world – and the need for some kind of simplicity, discovering what are those simple things.

1. The French title and the emphasis on simplicity and simple things? By way of contrast, the English title and the friendship, unlikely?
2. The opening visual collage, in the sea, the plankton, evolution, through the centuries, humanity, progress, modern cities – the opposite of simple things?
3. The setting in the Alps, the beauty of the mountains, the remoteness, the roads, the hearts and the wooden dwelling? The musical score?
4. The contrast with the business world, corporations, meetings, dinners?
5. The situation, Vincent stranded, the breakdown of the car, peer on the bike, coming back, offering to fix the car? Vincent staying, the quiet, sleeping, his talking, Pierre and his monosyllabic responses? Wanting Vincent gone? Vincent is and his return, Pierre having fixed the car, Vincent staying, sharing the meal, staying in the hut?
6. The media interview with Vincent, his walking out, the media and the long explanation of Vincent and his success in the commercial world, international, the variety of projects undertaken, dating sites, scientific research…?
7. Vincent’s return, wanting to stay with Pierre, climbing the mountain, Pierre and his woodwork, Vincent finding some exhilaration? The young girl, wanting to fish with Pierre? Pierre dressing up, going to the dinner, Vincent following, Pierre and his shyness, his sister-in-law, the death of his brother in an accident, care for the niece? Vincent seeing that Pierre loved his sister-in-law?
8. The arrival of the people in the company, their pressures on Vincent? The revelation of the truth, Vincent and the set up of the car breakdown, his wanting to employ Pierre? Discovering his hut, the interactions with the dog, Pierre and to scientific research, the background, his opting out of life, if the offer for employment in the United States?
9. The buildup to confrontation, the arguments, Vincent and his pressure? Setting up the deal, that Pierre propose to his sister-in-law, his hesitation because of the visit of the forester? Pierre going down, the sister-in-law, his awkwardness, her playful responses, the niece of Vincent watching through the binoculars? The dancing, the proposal, the joy?
10. The theme of the film, Pierre and his life with the simple things get the complexity of his research and its contribution to world development? Vincent and simple things, his complex life, yet the effect of his being with Pierre, the carpentry, yet the business?
11. The development of the friendship, Vincent and his future, Pierre and his research, Pierre and his marriage, the future for Pierre?
12. The film wanting a complex response from the audience, appreciating the friendship, appreciating life and simple things, but this is not entirely possible in the complex modern world.