FRAGILE

Switzerland, 2005, 85 minutes, Colour.,
Marthe Keller, Stephanie Gunther, Felipe Castro.
Directed by Laurent Negre.

This is the first film of writer-director Laurent Negre who had worked in film and advertising in Switzerland and Spain. It is a character portrait of a brother and sister. The structure of the film highlights how the mother of the two has committed suicide, with different effects on each of the children. The son has looked after his mother for some time and feels that, because of her succumbing to Alzheimer’s disease, she has killed herself to avoid embarrassment for her children. The sister, who has left home, does not know about Alzheimer’s Disease and this comes as a shock to her. The brother and sister bicker – as they have done in the past.

The film consists of a great many flashbacks, focusing on the mother herself. She is played by veteran actress Marthe Keller. The scenes with her have a great deal of pathos as she tries to conceal her illness – and is sometimes lost and bewildered in the maze of city streets.

The film is brief, a portrait of the two characters, clashes in family, senses of responsibility, death and grieving. The sister is also involved in a lesbian relationship which adds another dimension to the theme of relationships.

1. A first film, its scope, emotional impact? Dealing with the theme of illness, Alzheimer’s, suicide?

2. The Geneva setting, the city itself, the buildings, the water, the fountain, homes? Authentic atmosphere? The musical score?

3. The title – who was fragile? Sam, Katherine, Emma? All of them? The fragile situation?

4. The linear story of Emma’s illness, the relationship with her decision, her death and burial? The insertion of the flashbacks, each of them having their memories? (Emma’s flashback within a flashback)? The opening sequence, the bickering – and its not being able to be situated at the end?

5. The bickering, the clashes, Sam and his age, looking after his mother for four years, his artwork? His feeling despised by Katherine? Her life, studies in Brussels? Her relationships? The visits to her mother? The mother and her illness, the children’s behaviour, as seen in the flashbacks?

6. Emma, her character, her marriage for ten years, the divorce, her children, home, her illness, her gradual awareness of it, the nature of Alzheimer’s, her having to cope, Sam and his working at home, Katherine and her visits, the dinners, the arguments, music and singing, Emma tiring? Lost in the city and the lady helping her and Sam coming? Her illness, the tests? Her decision to kill herself, her throwing herself out the window, trying to spare her children suffering? The letters to each? Her lying in state, the burial and the ceremony?

7. Sam, his age, antagonism towards Katherine, his drugs, work, workshop, art? Perpetual anger? The flashbacks, helping his mother, the details at home, not telling Katherine the truth about the illness? His discovering his mother’s death, getting the letters, destroying Katherine’s? Anger in his room, smashing? Going out, the drugs? Katherine giving him a lift, their fighting on the way? His passing the night with his mother’s body? His father, his anger with his father, not staying for the funeral, going to the fountain, the speculation about the water killing him? The tourists, his waiting at the fountain – and Katherine’s arrival?

8. Katherine as older, her studies, distance from the family? The intensity of her relationship with Nadia, Nadia’s devotion, Katherine treating her badly? Going to the centre, the red noses, driving alcoholics home? Finding that Sam was the client? Her not knowing about her mother’s illness, Sam destroying the letter? Their fighting on the drive home, her hitting the rabbit, the bite, the pharmacy? Going to the funeral – and the realisation of what Sam intended to do?

9. The glimpse of the father, the divorce, his being present at the arrangements for the funeral, a quiet man, his relationship with his children, their blaming him?

10. Nadia, relationship with Katherine, the antagonism, putting the case outside the door, coming to the funeral, the reconciliation?

11. The nature of the illness, Sam going to the home and having a tour, his mother saying she was willing to go, planning to kill herself?

12. The lawyer, the financial and burial arrangements, his presence at the funeral?

13. The ritual of the funeral, themes of immortality?

14. The end, the tourists at the fountain, Sam, Katherine coming, the authorities, the last-minute rescue? Their future?