VERSAILLES
France, 2008, 113 minutes, Colour.
Guillaume Depardieu, Max Baissette de Malglaive, Judith Chemla.
Directed by Pierre Schoeller.
A homeless woman wanders Paris streets with her young son. Helped by aid agencies, despite her innate anger, she goes to Versailles for help and work. On the way to the railway station through the woods, they encounter a former addict who lives rough and helps them. However, after a night together, she leaves her son and goes away to work and eventually return. However, the boy and the man bond during her absence and he goes back to his estranged family where the boy gets a chance to find some stability. The reformed addict decides to officially recognise him as his own son – but is unable to follow through in responsibility.
Guillaume Depardieu plays the addict and Max Basette de Malglaive plays Enzo, the young boy. Their scenes together give force and emotion to this social-minded film.
1.A French tale, social awareness, humane?
2.The title, the ironies, the city of Versailles, the rich palaces, the woods, the musical score?
3.French cities, property, shelters, the woods and the huts, the more ordinary way of life?
4.Nina and Enzo, wandering the streets, the article about the unemployed, their hunger, the rescue, Nina’s angers, the bonds of mother and son, eating the food, in Versailles, seeking the station, going through the woods, meeting Damien, the talk the bond, the sexual encounter, Nina leaving the note and going?
5.Nina, her work, at the hospital, the elderly thinking her marvellous, her return, the search for Enzo, the burnt hut, losing him, finally finding him and the final letter? Meeting him again?
6.Enzo, his age, the young child, playing, his dependence on his mother, sleeping, hungry, the meeting with Damien, staying, Damien caring for him, getting him food, washing him, their work in building, their friendship? The other people in the woods? Taking Damien to the hospital? Waiting, going to his home, a new life, the adoption? Not wanting to be at school? Damien leaving? His message about having strength and guts? The later Enzo, surly, the letter from his mother, the woman reading it, his going to meet her?
7.Damien, the drugs background, living in the woods, alienation from his family, the meeting with Nina and Enzo, the encounter with Nina, the note, his friendship with Enzo, caring for him, sharing everything, the food, the washing, the work? Tony and the others in the woods, the jokes about the clothes, Tony’s death and the funeral? The burning of the hut? Going to hospital?
8.Damien going home, the change, his father and his new wife, Damien going to work, paying his board, the hard work, the decision for adoption, his leaving?
9.The father, his reaction, caring for Enzo, his wife?
10.The glimpse of social workers, doing their best, the angry reactions?
11.The addicts, the streets, living in the woods?
12.The comment on French society, employment, the marginalised?
