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Written by JORDAN BRANDES
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Friday, 27 July 2007 |
In a world a ruled by friendship Francois (Daniel Auteuil) is begging for crumbs. When we first meet Francois he is that funeral of a supposed friend, and while they did know each other it is business that brings Francois to the church not grief. Middle aged and divorced Francois lives in downtown Paris with his teenager daughter (Julie Durand) buying and selling antiques.
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“My Best Friend”
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 Entertainment
Art
Director: Patrice Leconte
Writers: Olivier Dazat, Patrice Leconte
Starring: Daniel Auteuil, Dany Boon, Julie Gayet
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Almost immediately after the funeral Francois rushes off to an art auction and impulsively and rather adamantly buys a very expensive Greek vase, one representing the everlasting friendship, draining quite a bit of money from his gallery for his own personal use. Not only does only does this create a huge rift with his partner but a fellow collector as well who repeatedly claims that he “does not deserve it”.
Francois it seems has no friends. Not one. This point becomes unmistakably obvious when an entire dinner party of supposed associates goes from friendly to out for blood spiteful. “No one will be at your funeral” They tell him frankly and without a hint of remorse. Convinced they are wrong Francois makes a bet: he has to produce not just a friend, but a best friend, in 10 days or forfeit his newly bought vase to his business partner.
While all this is going on Francois is fortunate enough to run into the highly sociable taxi driver Bruno (Dany Boon). Bruno is the polar opposite of Francois, quirky and extremely sociable to everyone he meets. It takes quite a while but François finally realizes that without Bruno’s help he will lose the bet and never have a friend.
The film changes gears at this point. Watching Francois attempt to make friends is almost hard to watch sometimes. It is not that his social skills are bad, after all the bet was made at a friendly gathering and he has an occasional lover, but he goes about them so horribly that it makes the viewer uncomfortable. Case in point, in an attempt to make a best friend Francois digs up a long lost best friend. Instead of simply calling him up he proceeds to stalk him from his home to the grocery store where he is shopping with his wife. This of course leads to a direct confrontation that does not end well at all.
The real relationship is between Bruno and Francois and the bond that forms between them. Though Francois is at first reluctant a real friendship inevitably grows out it. There is some strange tension between the two men that cannot be dismissed. It is hard to tell, near the end, whether or not the two hate each other really want to embrace each other intimately.
To be absolutely honest this film did not work that well. The writing seemed a bit hollow and the actors seemed more or less indifferent to the material. Many times throughout the film the camera seemed to jostle around like it had fallen down and could not keep any sort of real focus on a subject. If you are looking to pass a few hours in a movie theater this is the film for you. You won’t make any friends here. Powered by AkoComment 2.0! |
