THE VILLA/ MAISON DE RETRAITE

France, 2022, 97 minutes, Colour.

Kev Adams, Gerard Depardieu, Daniel Prevost, Mylene Demongeot, Jean-Luc Bideau, Liliane Rovere, Firmiine Richard, Marthe Villalonga, Marianne Garcia, Antoine Dulery, Jarry.

Directed by Thomas Gilou.

In a sense, The Villa is a formulaic film – but nonetheless enjoyable. This is the story of a character who is out of place, is sent to work in an institution, reacts badly, then encounters the people, mellows, and they all bond together. Happy ending. And why not!

The screenplay was written by the main actor, Kev Adams. He is obviously enjoying his role as Malinn, seen originally as a put-upon orphan, relying on his good friend, Moncef, growing up with an extreme dislike of older people, especially of elderly people. He is boarding with Moncef who is still looking after him – but he has been caught up with loan sharks, considerably in debt, but caught up in these activities by the police and sentenced to some community work. With elderly people!

So, off he goes to the Villa, not very happy, wary of the elderly – and, initially not without reason! He is befriended by one of the nurses who guides him. There is also an eccentric aide who is happy to help.

While Malinn is not enthusiastic at all about the elderly people and his initial dealings with them, the audience is very happy to meet them, especially since several are played by veteran French actors, familiar faces if not names for those who have been watching French films over the decades (but, especially, a star of the 50s and 60s who appeared in a number of British films to advantage, Mylene Demongeot). But, most of all, there is Gerard Depardieu (who also made at the same time the Balzac adaptation, Lost Illusions and starred as Inspector Maigret). He plays a former boxer, exuberant in his way, but having to face ageing, getting more and more cantankerous. This is one of Depardieu’s most engaging performances, critical of Malinn, playing jokes on him, but gradually mellowing, especially as they begin to play computer games together.

The film is not just an entertaining collection of seeing the elderly, their foibles, interactions, giving their memories, but there is a kind of subtext about what can go wrong in care for the aged. In fact, the management of this Villa is quite corrupt, taking in only residents who have no heirs, writing restrictive clauses, not letting them go out, hiring a security guard to keep an eye on them, eventually inheriting their wealth.

Which sets up a conflict, aggravated by the fact that Malinn is pursued by the violent loan sharks (though he does get boxing lessons and puts them into practice eventually), how to save the residents from the corrupt management.  What happens is, for the residents, a great escape, getting out of the building, packing into buses – and driving off to freedom.

Definitely a feel-good entertainment, familiar enough material but always pleasant to see again.

1. The title, the home for the aged, not so much retreat but confinement?
2. A French story, French style, French human and repartee? Aged care? The 21^st-century? Care and lack of care? Crimes and scams and fraud?
3. Milann, his story, orphan, his friendship with Moncef, Moncef helping him out in times of trouble,, growing up, the continued friendship, boarding with him? But the influence of institutions, the elderly, his antagonism and hatred for elderly people? His criminal background, in the courts, being sentenced to community work, with the elderly? His reaction, wanting to get out of it? His going to work, his reaction to the elderly people?
4. Milann and details of work, menial, cleaning? The friendship and support of the nurse? The aide and his comic style? Complaints, wanting to get out? Going back home, his friend, complaining, being ousted, climbing the wall, sheltering and hiding in the house?
5. The range of older residents, some of the classic actors from French cinema? The importance of Lino, his reputation as a boxer, the pictures on the wall, the memories? Cantankerous in his old age, his physical health, his bulk? Alfred, his loss of memory, dapper presentation, the sexual agenda, the woman coming to his room, as Marilyn Monroe, Lady Gaga, Madonna, and his becoming the equivalent as a confessor to all who wanted to tell him their stories? The flirting woman going into the room, provocative? The cook, her talents, complaints to the management? The teacher, her friendship, consideration? The other members of the group, talking, sitting at table? Comparing notes?
6. Malinn and his dealing with each of the residents, change of attitude, the treatment of him, talking, PlayStation with Lino, we know tempting him by leaving the money but his not taking it?
7. The management, the attitude towards the residents, the contracts, trapping them, no children, no inheritance, confining them to the house, the security guard at his domination?
8. Malinn and his money troubles, the loan shark, the threats – and the final confrontation, Lino teaching him how to box, his standing up for himself?
9. The realisation of the crooked management, the plan, distracting the manager, the cook and her discussions about menus, the hiring of the bus, the nurse and the Aide and their help, getting the residents out of the house, into the bus, the escape, the reaction of the manager and the security guard?
10. Lino, his death, leaving the money to Malinn, the nurse and her connections?
11. A happy ending, for all concerned, Malinn, reconciled with his friend and girlfriend, the money sharks, and the elderly residents free?