LE DISCOURS/ THE SPEECH
France, 2020, 87 minutes, Colour.
Benjamin Lavernhe, Sara Giraudeau, Julia Piaton, Kyan Khojandi, Guillaine Londez, François Morel.
Directed by Laurent Tirard.
This is a brief and amusing French film, French style.
Right from the beginning, the film breaks the fourth wall, the central character addressing the audience, actually speaking out the main credits. And he continues to speak to the audience throughout the film, but taking the audience into his mind, explaining himself, justifying himself, scenes of him, frequently, at a dinner with his family and the audience being told what he is thinking while he does not say it to those of the table. Then there are various sequences of the speech he might have given at his sister’s wedding – and is reluctant to do this. Some of these sequences are very persuasive in his putting his foot in it but then his retreating.
His other dilemma is that his girlfriend is taking a break, like hitting the pause button instead of stop. And we have various flashbacks to his life with his girlfriend, their meeting, mischief in the park with a boy riding his bike, shared happiness, the breakup. And, all the while during the film he is waiting, at the family table, for his girlfriend to read him back on the 38th day of the break. It is that kind of film.
Actually, Adrien, the central character, would be pretty obnoxious to live with! And, while we have his critical version, especially of his potential brother-in-law and criticisms of his parents, we hear their normal conversations as they discuss mundane things and are very cheerful with each other, enjoying the meal.
But, he does get the opportunity to reconcile with everyone – and a bit of rehabilitation for himself.
So, something of a character study in an offbeat kind of way. Also a portrait of relationships in an ordinary French family. And, elaborate wedding celebrations, the conga line, the speeches, the potential for mishaps, and, eventually, some happiness.
