NORMANDIE NUE
France, 2018, 105 minutes, Colour.
François Cluzet, François- Xavier De Maison, Julie- Anne Roth, Pili Groyne, Toby Jones, Vincent Regan, Colin Bates, Arthur Dupont, Daphne Dumons.
Directed by Philippe Le Guay.
A film of current French concern. It was released in 2018, released in Australia during the vehement protests against the policies of President Macron, all over the France but especially in Paris and the Champs Elysee, the protesters disfiguring the Arc de Triomphe. The protests in this film are not quite spectacular but are heartfelt.
Farmers in Normandy are feeling the pinch, especially as regards imports and exports, international markets, the lack of intervention by the French government. They decide to barricade one of the main roads in and out of Normandy, the farmers and their wives and families all getting their vehicles, cars, trucks and tractors blocking the highway.
One of the unintended consequences of the blockade is that a car of Americans has to make a detour. The passenger is a famous American photographer (Toby Jones) who discovers a location in a paddock for a photo shoot. His specialty is getting groups out in the open, to undress, to photograph them nude. Hence the title of the film.
However the central character of the film is the hard pressed mayor, the always reliable François Cluzet. He has intervened to help in all the problems of the farmers and tradesmen for many years, over-devoted, his wife even leaving him. He is approached by the agents of the artist to get the inhabitants to pose for the photo. He is reluctant. Suspects that they would not be willing.
Then he gets a brainwave. What if they were to put all their efforts of protest into this photo? He gets things going, stakes out the field with posts, satisfies the whims of the artist who must have the exact mood, the exact light…. However, a lot of the drama and the comedy come from the man is interactions with the locals, some reluctant, some willing, most, however, not turning up on the day, the whole enterprise turning into a disaster.
He does have some support from a young man, sports car driver, who has been away from the town for some years. He has also inherited the photography shop from his father. Between the jigs and the reels, we know what is going to happen – and it does! The young photographer comes to the rescue.
There is a variety of objections, the observations of a family who have moved out of Paris for life of tranquility in the country but returning to Paris, also the mayor having threatened to hang himself, rescued by the inhabitants, a finale with joyful celebrations and his presiding at a wedding.
Very French.
1. A slice of French life? The provincial town? Social crisis, financial crises?
2. The title, expectations, the opening sequence of the nude people? The photographer, his career and reputation of photographing nude men and women in different situations? The challenge to the town? Linking the photo to social protest?
3. The Normandy locations, the countryside, inland, the coast, the grazing fields? The town, homes, square, official buildings and offices? The detail of the farms and the sheds and the equipment? The musical score?
4. The focus on the mayor, continually re-elected, genial personality, care for everyone, yet his wife walking out on him? His interactions with the locals? His work at home? His concerns, social and financial situations, his encouraging the protest, the road blockade?
5. The photographer and his associates, driving through the countryside, his photographing, interest in potential sites, held up by the roadblock, getting round, the country roads, his finding the right field, his decision to stay? His associate and his help, the businessman leaving him? His manner, eccentric, staying in the town?
6. The scenes of the demonstrations, the spirit amongst all the people, leadership? Particular characters, their farms, difficulties, to squabbling about centuries-old disputes? Wives? (The later issues with the document, the rival handing it over, the reconciliation?)
7. The voice-over from Chloe, her parents, moving from the city, her dislike of the countryside, the mother and making and selling the bread, her father and going to Paris, fewer and fewer times, yet his rashes and allergies? His partner coming in by helicopter to persuade him to come? His reluctance, going for runs? The experience of the townspeople? And his ultimately leaving?
8. The idea of taking the photo, the townspeople and their reluctance? The mayor, his brain wave, the possibility for promotion? The setting up of the office, making lists, the discussions with the various people, the signing up? Some of the farmers overcoming their reluctance? The former beauty queen,, her reluctant husband, the butcher, his tantrums and upsetting people?
9. The setting up of the venue, the sticks in the ground, the grand plan for the photo, the photographer and his checking the light?
10. The day itself, people not turning up, the various excuses, thinking that the others had gone? The photographer, his pique, leaving, getting out the stakes and burning them? His rebuking all those who did not turn up? There excuses?
11. Vincent, his returning to the town, talent as a driver, his former girlfriend and her marrying, his not contacting her? Her friend, the phone number, getting together with him? The relationship? Taking her nude photo? Going to the wedding ceremony, the mayor and the celebration? Supportive of the mayor? His decision to take the photograph – and the background of his father and the shop and all the photos from the past (even his girlfriend and her first communion)?
12. The mayor, his being upset, exasperated, his decision to hang himself, the townspeople discovering him, bringing him down, encouraging
him?
13. Everybody gathering for the photo, the number turning up, Vincent and his camera, the people stripping off their clothes, running up the hill, the exhilaration of the photo?
14. Serious French social issues – but tongue-in-cheek treatment of these issues, especially with the nude photo?
