Length: 124 min.
Released: 1997
Europeans have a fascination with the American West, but this film gets its title from Bretagne, a region in Northwest France where this film takes place. The story centers around two characters, both foreigners. Paco is a Catalan in France on a business trip as a shoe representative, and Nino is a Russian hitchhiking his way around Europe. Paco's initial goodwill to help Nino causes him nothing but problems, when he loses everything: his car, his wares. even his job. But being stuck in a small French village has its upsides, as he meets a beautiful woman willing to help him. Finding Nino, and restoring his life again become his highest priority, but he begins to change his opinion of Nino.
As catastrophes continue to cause Paco grief, he begins to adopt some of Nico's carefree nature. Losing everything multiple times forms a bond between the two, who become friends. In one of his first roles, Sergi Lopez often plays villains, but he shows he's a more well-rounded actor with his portrayal of Paco. French director Manuel Poirier has used him in several of his films, always playing a lost Spaniard in France. Sacha Bourdo, a Russian-born actor popular in many French films, shows Nino is an intelligent and thoughtful individual, more a wandering philosopher than a vagrant gypsy.
Western uses its foreign characters to tell a multicultural story, but it is not about the difficulties of being a stranger in a strange land. Its characters reveal and challenge cultural stereotypes, and engage in real discussions about life and modern society. The characters grow on each other, and we grow with them.
Western is charming. It seems to say with a sense of humor you will get through anything, and live better. The film won the Jury prize at the Cannes film festival.
No comments:
Post a Comment