WELCOME TO THE STICKS (BIENVENUE CHEZ LES CH'TS)
France, 2008, 107 minutes, Colour.
Kad Merad, Dany Boone, Zoe Felix, Lena Renaud.
Directed by Dany Boone.
It’s the North- South divide with all its stereotypes, prejudices, jokes and mocking of language and accents. But, this time it is in France (though the same plot could be adapted for most countries with their rivalries and differences).
Writer-director, Danny Boon, who appears as the friendly, mother-dominated Antoine, did not speak French until he was 12. He comes from the northern region of France around Lille where the dialect is quite particular in its vocabulary and slant – and pronunciations. Since his home area is the main target of the satire in this genial film, he has been courageous – except that by the end everyone, audience included (or it should be), really likes the north and the northerners.
Obviously, with the inside knowledge and the recognition of words and accents, it is the French who will enjoy the film. Non- French can enjoy it but will not have the same relish, although the sub-titles are so geared and spelt (sometimes phonetically) to convey the bewilderment the southerners are having with the Stia dialect that English speakers can enjoy the comedy and the mix-ups.
When Philippe Abrams, a post-office manager, is desperate to get a comfortable appointment in the south where he and his wife and son live, he pretends that he is handicapped. But, found out, he is exiled to the sticks. At first, we see the locals through southern eyes and perceive them as hicks in the French backblocks. However, they soon reveal that they are good-natured and Philippe quickly settles down. There were tensions with his wife about the move but they become closer because he comes home only on weekends and decides to foster his wife’s paranoia about the north and confirms all her fears so that she is always concerned about him and his situation.
It can’t last, of course, and something has to give way. And niceness all round.
The collection of characters in the north play to the gallery but, along with Philippe, we get to know them and like them.
Could it be intentional, but the overhead microphone frequently lurks into the top of the frame both in interiors and exteriors, quite distracting?
1.The extraordinary success of the film in France? Its appeal? The French and their laughing at themselves?
2.The universal appeal? The north-south divide? Each side having stereotypes, prejudices? Different customs and language, accents? Mutual suspicions?
3.Judging people on the surface, getting to know them, changes of attitude, common humanity?
4.The south, sunny, homes, offices, school?
5.The north, colder, darker, less affluent, more ordinary?
6.The musical score? The visual style? (And the microphones visible throughout the film?)
7.The basic situation, Philippe and Julie and Raphael, home, government worker, offices, applications for a move, to the coast, Julie wanting a move, the tensions in the marriage? Philippe and his applications, being turned down, his cautious friend and wanting him to be out of the office without being seen? The application and pretending to be handicapped, the interview, his being found out when he stood to shake hands, the exile, two years, the strength to tell Julie, her being upset? Her reaction?
8.His drive to the north, the police holding him up for slow driving and not wanting to get there? The later jokes with the police, fining him when he was hurrying to get back? The contrived crash to prevent Julie going? The rain suddenly starting at the border of the north, his arrival, lonely, his reaction, nearly killing Antoine, going to Antoine’s house, his fear about Antoine’s approach, the chair on the door, his going to his apartment, no furniture? Antoine’s mother, strict, breakfast, the cheese and its odour, the various gifts from the mother? Walking to work? Antoine and his work, meeting the staff? The importance of the accent, the different vocabulary, his negative reaction, his exasperation on the first day?
9.Antoine, the writer-director of the film, at thirty-five, nice, living with his mother, making the choice to stay with her instead of going with Annabelle? Annabelle and her previous crush on him? His drinking during the delivery of the mail, his drunken behaviour with customers? Playing the carillon and his skills? The meals at the caravan diner, the group getting the furniture for Philippe, his taking them to the restaurant, the group teaching Philippe the vocabulary, the tone of voice? The Parisian waiter who did not understand? Antoine at home, his mother’s supervision, at work, his coping?
10.Philippe and the weekends, going home, Julie listening to what a miserable time he was having?
11.His return, happy, forgetting one weekend to go, helping Antoine with the deliveries, the various customers, accepting the drinks, on the bicycle, his arrest?
12.The staff, the two big men and their help, Annabelle, the biker friend – and the fight with Antoine, Philippe intervening and getting knocked out?
13.The details of the work at the post office, the bonds between the group?
14.Antoine’s mother, telling people off, Antoine telling her and her reaction, benign, the visit to Annabelle at the post office and warning her? Antoine and the carillon, Stevie Wonder and the song, Philippe pulling down the banner?
15.Julie, the visits of Philippe, her decision to go to the north, the crash? Coming by train, the plan, all the group acting as if the place was dreadful, drinking and shouting, the people in on the plan and watching? The truth? Her not being so upset?
16.Julie’s decision to go north, the passing of the years, happy, the little boy going, Antoine and Annabelle’s wedding, her pregnancy? Philippe leaving – and Antoine’s words about crying twice, not wanting to arrive, sad to go?
17.A film about good-natured people?
