Skipped the local Climate Action group meeting and went to see "A Difficult Year" at TIFF a few days ago and had the reality of our ongoing Climate catastrophe and mad overconsumption served up to me with subtitles, French style and wit. Directed by the makers of film "The Intouchables" it looks beautiful and has a fabulous kinetic energy and has enough surprises and twists in its storytelling to keep you pleasantly off-balance. The story revolves around two charming conniving overconsuming scoundrels played by Jonathan Cohen ('temporarily' Lexo) and Pio Marmai (Pumpkin) who have wonderful chemistry together as they become unlikely chums. They get drawn into joining the Climate movement and into increasingly radical actions by the alluring beauty and charm of one of the leaders played by Noemie Merlant (Cactus). There is a cartoonish aspect to the depiction of over consumption and the possible ways out of debt but the passion and commitment of the climate activist group is presented in a positive light as one experiences how their sense of community and shared purpose helps them live with Eco-anxiety which is one of the film's themes. A Difficult Year sheds light on an existential crisis yet it is able to be funny with a good heart and its ending is surely inspired by activist Emma Goldman's famous line: "if I can't dance, I don't want your revolution"
Review of A Difficult Year
