I've been keen to watch Intouchables for a while but when I spotted the book on which the film is based Le second souffle by Philippe Pozzo di Borgo I decided to read this first before catching up with the cinematic version. Would it be an appropriate text to cover for alevelfrench.com?
Spoiler alert
Pozzo di Borgo born into an aristocratic Corsican then pan-Europenan background depicts a golden, privileged childhood and youth looking back from his paraplegic present day self. Becoming conscious of how unnatural this upbringing has been he rebels a little during the student riots and then meets the love of his life his future wife Béatrice. The next part of his life gradually degenerates as Béatrice suffers miscarriages and still births one after another; this seems to strengthen rather than weaken their relationship and the narrative shows how they deal with this. Pozzo di Borgo's own racy life style as a business man in the champagne industry takes a dive literally when he suffers the accident which puts him into a wheelchair.
It is at this point that we meet Abdel whose relationship with Pozzo di Borgo forms the focal point of the film. Not having seen the film yet I can't really comment on what how it reflects on multiculturalism etc although in the book we see a person who is devoted to his boss at the same time as leading a lifestyle which encapsulates all the prejudices the French right wing have about second generation immigrants-and more besides. Whilst Abdel brings joie de vivre to Pozzo di Borgo's life, anyone less rich and indulgent couldn't possibly have tolerated the excesses of the irresponsible helper-the smashed up cars, failed businesses etc. It would be interesting to know why they haven't chosen a north African for the role; would it have been too much of a case of rubber stamping negative, stereotyped opinions? As far as the book goes for classes, I would hesitate to put it infront of 17 year olds - I would worry that the continuous misfortunes which occur could prove very depressing for this age group and in any case it's more of a biography. I also found the awakening of Pozzo di Borgo's sexuality a little unnecessary.
Interview avec Philippe Pozzo di Borgo
