LA GRANDE SEDUCTION (SEDUCING DR LEWIS)
Canada, 2003, 111 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Jean- Francois Pouliot.
What's in a name? Seducing has all kinds of sexual overtone and leads us to expect some medical sex story. It isn't.
The posters have already taken the remark that a reviewer would like to make about this little comedy: it is like the Ealing films from the UK in the 1950s, films like Whisky Galore (which had the American title Tight Little Island). This film is located on a tight little island off the Canadian coast. The central character, Germaine, remembers his childhood days when fishing was the livelihood and everybody was content. Now, the population of 125 is in the doldrums, cashing their dole cheques with little hope of renewal - except, maybe, if they can land a contract for a factory. The catches: they have to pay a hefty bribe to the company, they need to have over 200 inhabitants, they need to have a resident doctor.
And that is where Doctor Lewis comes in - and the seduction. Can they convince the city doctor who has come for a month to look over the place that he should stay? They also have to raise the money with the help of the rather unimaginative bank manager who fears being replaced by a machine. They also have to convince the company boss that they have the correct population (which eventually leads to logistics problems as they have to race along back streets to get to the next venue to create a crowded impression!).
It is all very genial (except the issue of the bribe which seems to be taken for granted as business management). The doctor is a nice man but is very upset when his engagement breaks down and he realises that everyone is deceiving him. Well, you know what happens. The important thing is watching how it happens.
Needless to say, there are a lot of characters on the island and there are lots of amusing situations (the listening in to all the doctor's phone calls and wanting to intervene when he is critical, a snorkeller putting a frozen fish on the eager angler's hook...).
While the setting is Canadian, the film travels well and has a universal humour and appeal.
1.A comedy with old-style charm, old-style issues?
2.The Canadian settings, French Canada? Spirit, style, sense of humour, irony? Universal appeal?
3.The coastal settings, an island anywhere in Canada? The irony of its title – St Mary the Modern? The small population (and inflating it for the sake of the doctor and for the building company)? The buildings, the old, the modern style, technology, the fishing industry, the possibility of factory and manufacture?
4.The title, its meaning – not the obvious meaning but getting Dr Lewis to stay on the island for five years?
5.The prologue, Germaine and his memories, as a boy, the people, the stories told, the fishing? The satisfaction for everyone concerned, the night, sex, the smoke from the chimneys? And this being brought back again at the end?
6.The queue for social benefits, Germaine and his two claims, even her reaction? Germaine at home, no future with the fishing, his wife wanting to leave? The mayor, his wife, the change with the mayor and Germaine becoming mayor?
7.The possibility of a factory, the bribes asked for by the officials, the officials and their characters, the condition of having the doctor, the plan to get the doctor, Germaine and his phone calls, the other company bidding more? The visit of the official, the tricks played on him, the population moving to and fro? The factory at the end, and the satisfaction of having some work, despite its only being plastic containers?
8.Christopher Lewis, his life and style, relationship with Brigitte, friendship with Paul, drugs, money? The advertisement, Germaine and the contact, his agreeing to come for a month?
9.Christopher’s arrival, the welcome, expectations? His meeting Eve and her nonchalant response? Checking on the restaurants, the comedy about his liking beef stroganoff, his phone calls to Brigitte? The islanders thinking that he liked feet – and the women trying to be sexy with their feet…?
10.The possibility of a loan, the bank manager, his prim attitudes, people playing jokes, his fearing that he would be replaced by a machine? At home, his daughter, her dating – and alleged pregnancy? His attempts to get the money, calling on favours, the friendship with the woman at the bank, her turning him down? The finale and his taking the benefit money to pay the bribe to the factory owners?
11.The comedy of Christopher’s phone calls being tapped, hearing truth about themselves, the bank manager stopping the phone call, the comments on the house, on the people? The two ladies listening in, taking notes, spreading the gossip around the town? Stopping the call when they felt insulted?
12.Christopher and the long line of patients, Steve and his disease, Germaine wanting to control the queue? Steve and his having to pretend to like jazz?
13.Germaine taking Christopher fishing, his failures, the diver with the frozen fish and Christopher’s delight?
14.Brigitte, the discussions on the phone, his love for her, her affair, his grief, speaking with Eve, hearing the truth – his getting drunk, his dismay about his being deceived by his girlfriend and his best friend? The effect on Germaine and the population?
15.The visit of the manager, everyone in the restaurant, running the back ways and getting to the bingo hall? The skill at pretence? The various meetings in the church – and Germaine’s control, everybody agreeing and participating in the pretences?
16.The pretend doctor, the rivalry for Christopher, his being abandoned, going fishing by himself? Their admitting the truth to him, the effect on him?
17.His change of heart, his connections loosed, his being able to stay?
18.The plastic containers – but the satisfaction of having work, honest work, some prosperity? The satire on small populations, islands, changes of livelihood, difficulties, social benefits, the possibility of building a better life, a new life?
