CAMPING A LA FERME

France, 2005, 92 minutes, Colour.
Roschdy Zem, Julie Delarme, Bruno Lochet, Dominique Pinon.
Directed by Jean- Pierre Sinapi.

Camping a la Femme is a film about multiracial societies. The setting is France.

The film focuses on social services, the idea of a mayor to improve relationships amongst the various members of society by offering a camp for young people who are able then to work to contribute to life in the town. The man in charged is a reformed criminal who is sympathetic and is determined that the young men under his care will contribute to the changes in the town.

The film shows a variety of young men, unwilling to do the work but forced to. There is also a young man with disability who is laughed at by the various people.

Obviously, the atmosphere will be eventually a feel-good one as the various young men bond with people in the town, working on farms getting the harvest, working with the priest and repairing the church, the Muslims and Catholics working together. The film does show the background of bigotry in contemporary society with its various characters and mix: a Sicilian thinking he should convert to Islam, an African and his critical mother, the mix of Islam, Judaism and Catholicism.

The film is down-to-earth, humorous, serious. The film stars Roschdy Zem who appeared in a number of French films including La Californie as well as being one of the villains in 36.

1. The light touch? Social concerns? A feelgood film? Optimistic about human nature?

2. Cosmopolitan France at the beginning of the 21st century? The ethnic and religious mix, the cities as melting-pots for crime and justice?

3. The plan for Community Services: the initiative of the mayor, her taking herself seriously, the meetings with the council, her title? The opposition, the expressions of racism and bigotry? The mayor and her social standing, her restaurant, her husband as chef, the forthcoming elections, the hope for TV coverage – and its being thwarted by the return of the dog? Her vicious turn? Her reporting the men to the authorities?

4. The people of the town, hostility, graffiti, the men smashing their own truck, the irony of Amar giving back the money to the bigots? European Union money?

5. Amar, his story, crime, reform, women? His first job for Community Services, the discussion with the authorities, phone calls to the judge? The van, the Pablo Neruda Centre? Picking up the group, the different individuals, laying down the rules, his exasperation? The arrival, the mayor, Anais and her farm, not having any tents, the rain, in the van, permission to go into the barn, to spite Anais’s father? The presence of Leo – and their laughing at his disability? Anais’s reaction?

6. The various jobs, the African Frenchman offering to help Anais, their discussions, his attraction? The two at the church, the priest, the repairs, the carry-on about Muslims working on a church? The awkwardness with the nails, the sawing, Jesus and the crucifix? The two at the football field, the dapper man helping the old man with his seventy-third harvest? The convert to Islam praying in the wrong direction, calling from the minaret and the reaction of the town? The man with hayfever and the men giving him marijuana and it clearing up his health, his relationship with his wife? The dapper man with his mobile phone, continually talking to Cindy? Helping the old man, finding his money, finding the old man dead, handling the situation, the question of the money?

7. Their laughing at Leo, their change, Leo and his interest in them, Leo giving the example of the bungee jumping and his exhilaration? Talking with them, wanting to go with them to Paris at the end, his grandfather pleading?

8. The young man and his dog, devotion, his photo album, talking about his dog all the time, the dog walking four hundred kilometres, and taking over the TV program? The Sicilian convert to Islam, his name, prayer, taking everything seriously? The man with his tie and suit, phoning Cindy? The African and his critical mother? The mix of Islam, Judaism, the Sicilian convert?

9. The attitudes of the town, the touches of comedy, the sex-starved wife and Amar? His lying about people’s eyes? Discovering the mayor and her husband?

10. The priest, nice, helping the situation, giving the job?

11. Cindy, her arrival, glamour, with her boyfriend, his inability, her going into the house, meeting Anais – and their pretending to be lovers? The joke on the men? The issue of the bed and breakfast, the mayor giving Anais concessions if she took the group?

12. The jobs, the achievement, the sense of happiness, bonding, dancing together?

13. The happy ending – would this experience, being in the open air, out of the city, the silence and the oxygen actually change their lives?