4 Stars/4
This is an exquisite film that you will not want to miss. While I am not a fan of reading subtitles in foreign films, this film’s dialogue is sparce enough and simple enough that you will not have a problem reading the dialogue and studying the expressions of the characters at the same time.
Madeline (Line Renaud) is a 92 year-old elegant Parisian woman who has called for a taxi to drive her to her final destination – a nursing care facility across town. Her taxi driver, Charles (Dany Boon), is overworked and constantly under water – working long hours, six days a week, to pay for his cab lease and provide for his family of three. But this promises to be a lucrative fare, so Charles accepts.
When I first saw the tile of this film, I was immediately reminded of the winsome “Diving Miss Daisy” – where the wealthy and spunky Jessica Tandy is driven across Atlanta by her chauffeur, Morgan Freeman. While Miss Daisy is determined to keep her independence, Madeline has come to terms with her loss of independence as she slowly moves across Paris to the place that will be her final stop in life. Daisy and Madeline could not be more unalike. As Charles and Madeline motor cross Paris, Madeline casually reveals her shocking history and slowly pulls Charles into a frame of mind where regret and self-pity have no place.
Through nostalgic and sometimes fuzzy photography, Madeline’s past opens before us – from her first encounter with love at the age of 16 with a handsome American GI at the end of WWII to her abusive relationship with her husband Ray (Jeremie Laheurte). Madeline’s spunk is both shocking and redemptive after a fashion. No spoilers here.
In telling their tales to each other, Charles and Madeline make memory stops across the city which culminate in a dinner at an lovely French restaurant, with Charles footing the bill. In a brief conversation with the nursing facility, Charles advocates for Madeline’s final moments of freedom with the attendant, stating that their charge will be substantially delayed in checking in.
Line Renaut is actually 95 years old and is beautiful in that slow and lovely way that the years sometimes happily play over us – if we are lucky. There is nothing rushed about this day in Paris. As the day unfolds, our hearts are open to the incredible bravery which both Madeline and Ray show their true characters to be.
The film is produced, written and directed by Christian Carion (“Joyeux Noël”).
I saw this film at the Park Plaza Theater with my movie buddy Kathy. Front row, center.
McVitty Movie Reviews 