The French film
Les Intouchables, translated as Untouchable, is way better than the title suggests. Based on a true story, Phillipe has a high level spinal cord injury after a paragliding accident. He is a wealthy aristocrat who can re-engineeer the life he wants. Despite his obvious penchant for risky adventure, he seems cocooned by a terribly conservative team of well meaning staff. Somewhere along the way he lost his wife and he strikes me as being seriously alone and in search of a new challenge. He sets up this challenge by hiring an endearing black ex-con who was only looking for a signature to get the dole. Despite a very limited life growing up in an overcrowded family, Driss is still pretty enthusiastic and open to experiencing the alternatives of aristocratic and disabled lifestyles. The script is well written and both actors very accomplished - so that they systematically and humourously demolish stereotypes about race and social class through enjoying discovering their common humanity. I really could enjoy the way they both uncovered and eventually respected each others' worlds; something very close to my heart and my life experiences. There is a real beauty is appreciating something that is seen as normal and everyday to someone else! The humour was subtle and the message was deep and significant. While there has been some criticism about the cultural contrasts, I cannot bear to think about a proposed American remake - this would need to be avoided!
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