The Intouchables (2011)
Intouchables (original title)

After he becomes a quadriplegic from a paragliding accident, an aristocrat hires a young man from the projects to be his caretaker.

Directors:

Olivier Nakache, Eric Toledano

Writers:

Olivier Nakache, Eric Toledano

Stars:

François Cluzet, Omar Sy, Anne Le Ny

Top 250 #62 | Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 20 wins & 31 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
François Cluzet	...	Philippe
Omar Sy	...	Driss
Anne Le Ny	...	Yvonne
Audrey Fleurot	...	Magalie
Joséphine de Meaux	...	La DRH société de courses
Clotilde Mollet	...	Marcelle
Alba Gaïa Kraghede Bellugi	...	Elisa (as Alba Gaïa Bellugi)
Cyril Mendy	...	Adama
Salimata Kamate	...	Fatou
Absa Diatou Toure	...	Mina
Grégoire Oestermann	...	Antoine
Dominique Daguier	...	Amie de Philippe
François Caron	...	Ami de Philippe
Christian Ameri	...	Albert
Thomas Solivéres	...	Bastien, dit le Plumeau

Storyline

In Paris, the aristocratic and intellectual Philippe is a quadriplegic millionaire that is interviewing candidates for the position of his caretaker with his red-haired secretary Magalie. Out of the blue, the rude African Driss cuts the line of candidates and brings a document from the Social Security and asks to Phillipe to sign it to prove that he is seeking a job position to receive his unemployment insurance. Philippe challenges Driss and offers a period of adaptation of one week to him to gain experience helping him. Then Driss would decide whether he would like to stay with him or not. Driss accepts the bet and moves to the mansion, changing the boring life of Phillipe and his employees.

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Plot Keywords:

Paragliding | Rich Man | Taking A Bath | Dating | Reference To Adolf Hitler | 

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Taglines:

Sometimes you have to reach into someone else's world to find out what's missing in your own.

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Genres:

Biography | Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some drug use

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook [fr] Official Facebook [uk]

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

2 November 2011 (France)

Also Known As:

The Intouchables

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$103,507 (USA) (25 May 2012)

Gross:

$13,179,837 (USA) (11 January 2013)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Quad Productions, Chaocorp, Gaumont

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The official entry of France to the Best Foreign Language Film at the 85th Academy Awards 2013.

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Goofs

There are two different Maseratis used in the film. In the opening scene, there is a different car used for the fast part of the car chase - notably a Quattroporte GTS 4.2 that can be identified by a chrome mesh grill and four exhausts. At the part where they are stopped by the police, a different front grill can be seen with vertical segments, and when they drive off two large exhausts are visible. It is one of the 4.7 versions of the Quatroporte. The 4.7 version of the car is again shown when later Driss gets in the car for the first time.

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Quotes

Philippe: My true disability is not having to be in a wheel chair. It's having to be without her.

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Connections

References Tom and Jerry (1940)
Tom and Jerry mentioned

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Soundtracks

"Nocturne in Si Bemol Mineur Op.9 N'1"
Music by Frédéric Chopin
Performed by L. Rev

User Reviews

A magnificent, sensitive movie

It's not because I'm French that I appreciated this movie which I've seen twice. Too give the really infamous appreciation of the reader from Toronto to the French public, qualifying us of a segregationist country is difficult to gulp especially coming from north America which has not a very glorious past on the matter even in recent years. Perhaps the commentator should see the movie "The help" to refresh his memory... But what I'd like to say here apart of praising the fabulous interpretation of both leading actors is to remind that this is a true story, it did not come out from the directors and scriptwriter heads.

Philippe Pozzo Di Borgo born in 51, got a dramatic para-glider accident in the French Alps in 1993 being totally deprived of movements from the base of his neck to the tip of his feet. 3 Years later his wife died and he was helped out of his depression by Abdel Sellou his life-aid assistant. He published his terrible story in 2001 under the title "the second breath" (in French "Le second soufflé"). The directors have had the compliments of Di Borgo for the way they adapted his story. If in any way this was biased he would never had accepted the film to be left in that state. The Di Borgo family is a very old and wealthy family whose origins goes far back in the history of France, and their residence in Paris is considered to be one the jewels of the capital at the same level as The Hotel de Sully in Paris. What is shown in the film is exactly what happens everywhere in the world as far as handicapped are concerned: tendency to overwhelm them with pity which is more diminishing them as if their fate is not enough for them to swallow every minute or second each day. The way the racial problem is viewed is properly demonstrated. The police behaves in different ways depending of the color of your skin or your country's origin and sorry to say North America is a very good example of this so perhaps is not a proper judge on this matter.The authors had the courage to state this straightforwardly. The film shows on the contrary how a man with a very limited education at the beginning, a former convict, is capable progressively to change his views, and find in himself at the same time the good Samaritan aspects and help with humor and punch, his handicapped boss to find a new belief in his shattered life at 42! At the same time the boss demonstrates an open-mindedness which was not obvious to get not only because of his handicap but because of his origins and his wealth at first. Let's not illusion ourselves on the matter, everywhere in the world few wealthy people would accept to have as an aid an ex convict whichever color his skin should be! It's a fantastic lesson of tolerance, and friendship. For just those reason this movie would deserve an Oscar or Golden Globe awards.