(Message to the Director:...Ah, Francois......Francois, if your intent was to give us a heart shatteringly sad tale, you've succeeded only too well. Yet, in the end, you have also given us---in Valeria Bruni Tedeschi's character of Jany---a glimpse of Romain's redemption.)
This is one of the most despairingly heart-rending films you are likely to see: the tale of a dying young man who, perhaps unwisely, decides not to share his impending death (and choice not to fight overwhelming odds) with anyone close to him. This is true for everyone, except a beloved grandmother, and goes even so far as to include driving away a lover.
The resulting loneliness and feelings of loss this amazing French actor (Melvil Poupaud) causes us to share with him are overwhelming; at times we are struck almost physically---not just emotionally. As we watch him, body wasting away (for that is really what the young actor did in taking on this role), we almost painfully feel our own bodies contracting, diminishing. There are moments when we want to hit him for his behavior, though even more there are instants we want to take him into our arms.....let him know that he is not alone.....that some way, and at such times, we are all connected.
Jump to the Final Scene: Romain has withdrawn from the world......we then see a 'sun-setting' world withdraw from him (yes, you do actually see that----the symbolism is heart wrenching).
PS--Letting you in on a little secret, after viewing this film one has only to look again at the cover of the DVD.......to unerringly 'know' how Romain's life truly ends / begins. All becomes clear.
PPS--Obviously I strongly disagree with viewers who, principally, can find only the negative in Romain. He is (was), after all, only too human.
****
This is one of the most despairingly heart-rending films you are likely to see: the tale of a dying young man who, perhaps unwisely, decides not to share his impending death (and choice not to fight overwhelming odds) with anyone close to him. This is true for everyone, except a beloved grandmother, and goes even so far as to include driving away a lover.
The resulting loneliness and feelings of loss this amazing French actor (Melvil Poupaud) causes us to share with him are overwhelming; at times we are struck almost physically---not just emotionally. As we watch him, body wasting away (for that is really what the young actor did in taking on this role), we almost painfully feel our own bodies contracting, diminishing. There are moments when we want to hit him for his behavior, though even more there are instants we want to take him into our arms.....let him know that he is not alone.....that some way, and at such times, we are all connected.
Jump to the Final Scene: Romain has withdrawn from the world......we then see a 'sun-setting' world withdraw from him (yes, you do actually see that----the symbolism is heart wrenching).
PS--Letting you in on a little secret, after viewing this film one has only to look again at the cover of the DVD.......to unerringly 'know' how Romain's life truly ends / begins. All becomes clear.
PPS--Obviously I strongly disagree with viewers who, principally, can find only the negative in Romain. He is (was), after all, only too human.
****