L'INTOUCHABLE
France, 2006, 83 minutes, Colour.
Isild le Besco.
Directed by Benoit Jacquot.
An interesting short film about the confrontation between European culture and that of Asia, specifically India. The film focuses on a young woman, who wants to be an actress, is involved in an affair with her director, but who confronts her mother on her birthday, wanting to know the identity of her father. When it emerges that he was from India, she decides to visit India, try to find him and meet him.
This is familiar material, especially with Europeans making journeys to India. However, within its short time, it shows the young woman and the way that she met relatives, tracked down her father, saw him but did not make herself known. In the meantime, she experiences the culture and traditions of India, dresses like an Indian, participates in the celebration of an Indian wedding. She also encounters some Frenchmen who are visiting a relation, a Frenchwoman who has become a nun in India – which gives the occasion for some conversation about the nature of commitment, detachment and vocation.
The young woman is played by Isild la Vesco. She is a strong screen personality, enough to make the film persuasive. The film was directed by Benoit Jacquot who has been directing films from the mid-1970s and whose films include Princess Marie, A Tout de Suite and Sade. He also did a version of the opera Tosca.
1. Brief? Personal journey? Europe meets Asia? How successfully did the film blend these themes?
2. The French settings, homes, cafés, the streets, the film set? The contrast with India, the Delhi airport, Delhi, the countryside, the experience of being in the crowds of India, the ceremonies, schools, visit to the convent, an overview of contemporary India? The musical score and the blend of western and Asian music?
3. The focus on Jeanne, her being slapped at the opening of the film – touchable and untouchable? Her anger, leaving, her mother calling her back, her going back to celebrate her birthday with her mother, blowing out the candles, the wish? Her mother and her drinking? The revelation about her father, Jeanne not knowing anything? Her mother in India, her affair with the Indian, the brief meeting, her pregnancy? Going back to Europe? Never finding the right time to tell Jeanne? The impact of the mother’s monologue, revelation of herself? Her drinking, collapsing on the bed?
4. Jeanne, her telling the story, her going out into the streets, wandering, in the café, meeting the worker, going to his home, leaving? On the train? Her going to the set? Her audition, her loud rendition, her being asked to tone it down? The performance of the speech from St Joan of the Stockyards by Brecht? Her later meeting the director, the affair with him, the night, her not wanting sexual relationship, silence? Her decision to go to India?
5. The film, the direction, the sexuality, the nudity, her performance? Her getting the money to go to India?
6. The plane, the old man on the plane, the discussions with him, his explaining the meaning of the Untouchables, the caste system? Rich and poor Untouchables? His drinking, his collapse, her going to the back of the plane – his disappearing?
7. At the airport, the taxi, the hotel? Her enjoying India? The massage? Her meeting the two Frenchmen? Conversation, the homosexual man, wanting to visit his cousin the nun, asking Jeanne to come? The nun, her being in India, her choices, the man not understanding? Suggesting loneliness? The nun saying she was never lonely? Her reason for joining the convent, prayer? Her understanding his situation, her frank reference to his situation, Jeanne, in the background, the interview, enjoying the visit?
8. Getting the information as to how to find the family, her meeting the young student, his friendship, accompanying her to the massage, showing her the city, his introducing her to the family, arriving for the meal? Her being welcomed? Staying in the town, viewing it, approaching the young man’s father, claiming that he was her father, his explanation about his brother?
9. The wedding celebration, Jeanne and her dressing in the sari? Her enjoying the experience of her Indian heritage, the dance, celebration, her joy?
10. Her going back to Delhi, her going to the school? Watching the father and his communication with the children, teaching? Not saying anything? Following him down the street, the possibility of revealing herself? The decision to turn back?
10. Her return home, with the director? The relationship, the effect on her, her quest, her Heritage? A European understanding the mysteries of Asia?
11. The importance of this kind of film for the 21st century, Europeans learning how to understand Asia without being colonial or patronising?
