This is a film that could be asking a question but which one? Can we change our destiny or does destiny change us? The film starts with a mysterious man on a train who comes to a small French town to meet some others for a planned bank heist and in a small shop meets an older man who is instantly drawn to him. Johnny Hallyday plays Milan who doesn't say much and the great Jean Rochefort is the retired teacher of poetry Monsieur Manesquier. Milan cannot find a place to stay and Manesquier is more than happy to have him stay with him. Both men are the opposite of each other. Milan is a tough ex-con type that has been down a tough road in his life and seems very tired of his life and appreciates his hosts simple life. Manesquier is a dreamer that does jigsaw puzzles and eats the same meal in the same diner every day. But he dreams of being a cowboy or a gangster type. He asks Milan if he has any tattoos and ultimately asks if he can be in on the heist. Milan is street wise and says no. During the course of the film we watch each character try and become each other. Milan borrows some old comfortable slippers to wear and wears his mustache like Manesquire. At one point he helps a young boy who is being tutored in poetry. Manesquire on the other hand gets his hair cut short like some of the younger men and has Milan show him how to shoot pistols.
*****SPOILER ALERT***** Towards the end of the film Manesquire is having a heart operation at the same time Milan and his cohorts rob a bank. During the robbery Milan discovers someone has tipped off the police and they are surrounded by a swat team. Manesquire dies on the operation table at the exact same time as Milan is gunned down. The film has lots of symbolism like the ending when both trade spots and become each other even though its to late. There is on scene in the film where the bank robbers are in a stolen car at a red light and on the other side of the intersection in another car is the surgeon who is going to perform the operation the next day. When the light turns green both cars pass each other and this scene reflects what the film really is about. Two men with destinies that can't be changed passing each other in different directions. Hallyday is quite effective as the burnt out thief and he gives a performance that reminds me of a younger Charles Bronson. His quietness is the key to his character. He's seen a lot and is burnt out, what more is their to say? And Rochefort is a marvel to watch. He seems perfectly cast as a retired teacher who craves excitement in his dwindling life. Listening to him ramble on with his stories adds so much to the film that you can understand why he wants to change his life. The film is shot in a hazy gray tone and there is no sunshine at all in this film. It made me think that maybe these two doomed characters were in all essence dead already and they were just to lost souls walking around in limbo until their fate catches up to them. Patrice Leconte has shown to be a good story teller and this is arguably Leconte's best film beside "The Hairdressers Husband". Well made with two excellent performances make this a memorable film.
*****SPOILER ALERT***** Towards the end of the film Manesquire is having a heart operation at the same time Milan and his cohorts rob a bank. During the robbery Milan discovers someone has tipped off the police and they are surrounded by a swat team. Manesquire dies on the operation table at the exact same time as Milan is gunned down. The film has lots of symbolism like the ending when both trade spots and become each other even though its to late. There is on scene in the film where the bank robbers are in a stolen car at a red light and on the other side of the intersection in another car is the surgeon who is going to perform the operation the next day. When the light turns green both cars pass each other and this scene reflects what the film really is about. Two men with destinies that can't be changed passing each other in different directions. Hallyday is quite effective as the burnt out thief and he gives a performance that reminds me of a younger Charles Bronson. His quietness is the key to his character. He's seen a lot and is burnt out, what more is their to say? And Rochefort is a marvel to watch. He seems perfectly cast as a retired teacher who craves excitement in his dwindling life. Listening to him ramble on with his stories adds so much to the film that you can understand why he wants to change his life. The film is shot in a hazy gray tone and there is no sunshine at all in this film. It made me think that maybe these two doomed characters were in all essence dead already and they were just to lost souls walking around in limbo until their fate catches up to them. Patrice Leconte has shown to be a good story teller and this is arguably Leconte's best film beside "The Hairdressers Husband". Well made with two excellent performances make this a memorable film.