The Barbarian Invasions /
Les Invasions Barbares (R)

by Denys Arcand

Celebrated Montréal writer-director Denys Arcand's 1986 film Le Déclin de l'empire Américain (The Decline of the American Empire) brought together a circle of verbally virtuoso intellectuals whose liberal ideals languished while they sought refuge from ennui in voracious sexual activity. It was one of the most successful films foreign films of its period, preceeding the director's international smash hit Jesus of Montreal.

Seventeen years later, his award-winning new film The Barbarian Invasions reunites the characters of Le Déclin, though prior knowledge of the characters is not necessary to appreciate the new tale. It powerfully and emotionally explores the relationship between the generations; above all, it is the story of estranged family members grappling to make sense of each other, and a genuine festival highlight.

Here, we find the sharp, salacious Rémy (Rémy Girard) facing mortality. Distressed, his ex-wife Louise (Dorothée Berryman) sends for their successful financier son Sébastien (Stéphane Rousseau). Father and son barely tolerate each other, but Sébastien grudgingly responds to the call of the mother who raised him alone. He organises his father's hospital stay and summons his old friends to his bedside. They arrive, bristling with wisdom and witticisms about love, family and death. And with them comes Nathalie (Marie-Josée Croze), daughter of one of Rémy's friends, who has her own demons.

The Barbarian Invasions, Arcand's second film in French since 1989, is an exemplary work concerning itself with universal themes of love, faith, family and death. Its intelligence, wit, cynicism and hope bristles in every scene. Arcand's vibrant script allows his captivating ensemble countless opportunities to shine.

The director shifts effortlessly between comedy and pathos as he wrestles with the faltering dreams of individuals and nations. The Barbarian Invasions was the winner of the prizes for Best Actress (Croze) and Script at the 2003 Cannes International Film Festival, and at press time received 2004 Academy Award nominations for Best Foreign Language Film and Best Original Screenplay.

Canada / France - 2003 - 99 mins - Dramatic Comedy - French with English subtitles
Director: Denys Arcand
Script: Denys Arcand
With: Rémy Girard, Stéphane Rousseau, Marie-Josée Croze, Marina Hands, Dorothée Berryman, Louise Portal, Sophie Lorain, Pierre Curzi, Johanne Marie Tremblay, Yves Jacques, Dominique Michel
Distributor in Australia :Hopscotch