I watched Guillaume Gallienne's film "Me, Again Me and Mother", the original title of which sounds like "Boys and Guillaume, to the table", again it is not very clear why it was necessary to try to hammer the meaning of the film into the viewer's head at once (probably in case he does not understand). They say that the film is completely autobiographical (even the name in the film is preserved), moreover, the author of the script (and before that - the play) and director Guillaume Gallienne plays in this film the main character and his mother too. And the movie, oddly enough, is pretty good. The film tells the story of a not quite ordinary boy, who for a long time considered himself a girl, because he grew up not like his other two brothers - typical boys, athletes, which greatly upset his father, but which, perhaps not quite consciously, indulged his mother, whom he loved very much and whom he tried to imitate. And how, after all, he defined himself as straight, not homosexual (the latter in the film are not very politically correct). The film was liked in Cannes, where it received two prizes (not a palm branch, but still) and was nominated in 2014 for Cesar.
There comes a time in everyone’s life when they have to leave the family nest. But sometimes it happens that it is the most difficult to leave the mother's nest. It happens that a mother and her child form such a close relationship that in the future an adult learns life through the prism of his mother’s ideas, which can significantly distort reality. I think this idea was laid in the French comedy "Me, Me and Mother Again."
Synopsis Since childhood, Guillaume literally idolized his mother, admiring her manners, gestures, intonation of voice. However, this excessive love for his mother changes Guillaume himself, because of which his family begins to suspect something wrong with him. As a result, Guillaume decides to understand himself and understand who he really is.
Since the film is in the center of attention all the time is the main character and his mother, performed by the same actor, then, therefore, it is necessary to talk about the play of the comedian Guillaume Gallienne, who played the role of Guillaume. In his performance, the main character turned out to be a confused character who since childhood considered himself a girl, but after unpleasant incidents he began to suspect that he was a homosexual, which, most likely, was also contrived by his beloved mother. It should be noted that Guillaume’s mother, played by Gallienne, is a pun and not a farce, but the idea of the director, which I will talk about later. However, I would like to praise what I thought was a brilliant performance of a woman who became the ideal of life for her son.
Guillaume Gallienne directed not just a comedy, but also a family drama about the difficult relationship between his son and his mother. According to the idea of the director, Guillaume is so admired by his mother that he takes everything from her, including her female identity. As a result of such a close relationship, Guillaume shows a feminine nature, because of which others begin to consider him gay, although Guillaud himself does not believe this. As a result of difficult and funny cases, Guillaume realizes that it was necessary for him to break away from his mother’s nest and live his life and mind. With the realization of this, the viewer finally sees the true appearance of Guillaume’s mother, who long hid behind his face.
Result Of course, "Me, Me and Mom again" before viewing can cause various contradictory emotions, because it is initially unclear what this film is about. But it is with watching that you realize that this film is not just a good comedy, but just a good movie, which from an unusual artistic point of view gives us the idea that it is time to live and learn life on your own.
8 out of 10
In 2013, the French comedian and stand-up Guillaume Gallien’s film “Me, Me and Mom Again” was released on cinema screens, despite the fact that in the original it is called “Boys and Guillaume, to the Table!” (apparently, film distributors made a reference to the film “Me, Me and Irene Again”, although the original title perfectly conveys the essence of the film).
It looks a lot like Breakfast on Pluto. Only if Killian Murphy's character was gay there, Guillaume just can't find himself. His mother has given him the idea that he likes guys to be the main woman in his life. Because of this, since childhood, the boy does not know who he really is, but faced with difficulties and finding his orientation by means of probation, he still manages to prove that nothing can destroy the love of his mother being married to a woman.
Compared to Breakfast on Pluto, the picture turned out to be quite light, but in no way stupid. We just show that all the problems and fears come from our childhood that we need to overcome, that we need to be happier. The most amazing thing is that the plot of Me, Me and Mom again is based on the biography of the actor himself, which often seems incredible and fictional.
As a result, in my opinion, the film turned out to be very interesting, but not for everyone, such pictures either love or hate.
9 out of 10
At first, it was hard to get into those events, characters, dialogues. It's strained. I didn’t want to watch everything positively, theatrically, pompously. Then he started getting closer to the main character. And after a beautiful, emotional, shot like a mini clip, the scene with the pool, the film absorbed into itself. The ending leads to interesting revelations and reflections by Guillaume that he was very interesting and clever to listen to and watch. In the end, an emotional, cognitive story. I think that this person, the director, can not be homophobic, if he is not a representative of a sexual minority, then he is very close to him, since he makes such a movie. A nice, handsome actor-director.
Guillaume Gallienne's comedy "Boys and Guillaume, to the table!", the name of which we have translated, to put it mildly, not quite adequately, suddenly became the main favorite of the national award "Cesar". Actually, this is not so much a comedy as a farce about sexual identity, which has at least one vivid analogue in our cinema. I mean the buffoonade "Hello, I am your aunt", where the incomparable Kalyagin shone. The 41-year-old Frenchman Guillaume Gallienne goes even further, in the sense that he takes on several times more than usual, namely: the script, directing, producing and performing several roles at once, most of which are female. In addition, he weaves into the cinematic fabric also flaps of his play, which five years ago became a hit in the Paris scene (a similar precedent happened last year, when the French filmed their other stage hit – “Name”). And the most amazing thing is that Gallienne, who debuted (in the movie) in all these qualities (except acting), copes with such an unbearable burden.
The film, which gathered two and a half million viewers in France (the second indicator in the country last year among its films), failed miserably with us: coming out only ten copies, gathered only 4 thousand Russians in cinemas. The reason is quite simple: the playful Frenchman touched on topics too foreign for the Russian person. So, if in France last year seriously discussed the topic of legalization of same-sex marriage, in Russia everything was done exactly the opposite: they whipped up machophilia and sanctioned homophobia, imposing a legislative veto on any propaganda of same-sex attraction. Gallienne is too provocative and defiant for our mentality plays the topic of sexual identification, making the hero so feminine that if not for his deliberate clarion, our distributors could well be threatened with criminal punishment. This is probably the reason they ignored this French hit.
The actor with the face of a complete comedian, if not a clown, plays a young man without exact age coordinates, who already in early childhood began to stray from the path of the true, because he too literally understood the daily mommy invitation to dine: "Boys and Guillaume, to the table!". Guillaume in the film not only idolizes his mother, but also imitates her in every possible way, and the mother’s voice generally imitates to perfection. Gallienne breaks comedy so enthusiastically and highly professionally that it is simply impossible not to succumb to his skill and excitement, and regardless of the sensitivity of the topic and the scruffiness of individual scenes, not very far from the jokes of "toilet humor", which have tightly occupied the comedy genre in recent years. And if you manage to overcome the barrier of alienity of the first 15 minutes, then you will watch this movie with increasing interest.
Gallienne, not the first year improving his professional skills in the theater “Comedy Française”, in the plays of Molière, Beaumarchet, Marivo, as if trying to follow the traditions of his theater, in which for a long time there were no directors at all, and the plays were staged either by the authors of the plays or by the actors themselves. He's got a lot going on in his debut. Not only mocks, but also parody: the national characteristics of the Spaniards, the English, the Germans, the mores of gays, family relations, male infantileity, psychoanalysis, military duty ... and, surprisingly managing not to slip into outright vulgarity, makes it so that this "grotesque burlesque" overcomes the boundaries of the "benefit of one actor" and clings to the living.
"Me, Me and Mom Again" - I really didn't like the movie! I didn’t think the movie was about blue! For a long time I thought about writing a movie or not, but still decided to write it. Who wouldn’t want to watch this movie... It would be better to save 90 minutes. I wasted so much time on “it”! I hope you are wiser!
The genre of the film is a comedy, but in fact the film is far from comedy. Of course, a subtle “humor” like self-rescue from rape because of another nation is definitely cool. I think it's as cool as dodging a competitor. If you like stupidity, or rather if you think it is funny, then you will definitely like the film. The usual humor in comedies to which everyone is mostly used in this is completely absent.
About the hero: If you reject all discontent about the film and do not think about negative impressions, then in general the role is played realistically. Until the very last moment, the hero convinces us that he is blue. Watching him persuade is unpleasant! To see all his attempts is terrible! I didn’t like the painting!
In general about the film: It may be a normal movie for France and Belgium, but for me, Guillaume’s life is nonsense. Watching the 1st time was unpleasant and difficult. Only after reading the comments on the film and learning that the hero would still be normal in the end prompted me to try to watch! I could barely see it!
Evaluation: I didn’t want to appreciate this movie! It's not even worth the credit!
A promising trailer filled with dynamic, funny moments, a seemingly interesting story and a colorful actor, in fact it is more of a drama, where not only is there no sense of humor, where it is simply inappropriate.
Throughout the film, I could not understand, and here the mother, how she is connected with the fate of Guieme, where so much tenderness on the part of the boy, to such a cold and eccentric mother, to all these questions, the answer I received only at the end of the film.
Speaking of a sense of humour is just horror. Honestly, I didn’t want to laugh at the fact that the main character was able to avoid gang rape, since he is not an Arab. Well, the epic scene of masturbation of teenagers in the boarding house, not that it did not cause a smile, but rather pity for the paucity of the creators.
For an hour and a half, I had only one thought in my head: “I was deceived, the trailer promised me laughter and delight, where is all this?”
The only plus of this film is the acting skills of Guillaume Gallienne, as an actor he is simply magnificent!
Subtle humor puts this author’s work not even higher on the level of many comedies, but rather embodies something new in this genre, pushing the boundaries of the usual eye and taste in the general range. It deservedly at the Cannes International Film Festival last year made a lot of noise, taking two palm branches.
I didn't see the tragedy. The proof of that is the happy end. Because in the center of attention is a strong personality, which in the process of its formation does without brands of prestige (and boys always sin with them at such a tender age, especially) and fears of being noticed in making any slightest mistake or fatal mistake. You could have. That’s why I think the director decided on the genre. He played the main role himself. I understand the reason: I didn’t trust anyone, and I was right. After all, a good joke is born with a serious face, and is most convincing only when it comes without intermediaries.
Especially useful picture will seem to mothers raising sons, as well as children strange, who are very distinguished from the general mass (in ordinary life, parents are usually the first to give up). To be honest, I felt sorry for the hero. He was so desperately tried to hang labels not only in his inner circle, but also his indisputable authority - his beloved mother (thank God, not a fool). Then I doubted for a moment about the mental health of the character (a group of psychoanalysts turned out to be very useful in the film).
The moral of this fable is this: to be able to be head above others is difficult, not given to every adult. Perhaps you should be born with such talent.
Who gives the go-ahead for such a translation of the title of the film? Break your legs.
I am not homophobic, but learning and interested, discovering the truth for myself, thinking about writing or not writing about it for a long time, and not having the desire to offend anyone, realizing that we are all human beings and prone to making mistakes, including myself, still write.
It’s not really about the movie, but it explains a lot, at least for me.
From the point of view of the ancient Vedic scriptures and not only, we are our immortal souls, and every time we incarnate in a body, we must work out the mistakes of past lives, often changing our gender (species), we unconsciously, intuitively can not forget our previous experience, and that is why we are periodically not drawn to the opposite sex, but should. And this is exactly what our hero faced, we add that the mother did not interfere and did not help in any way to accelerate the process of self-identification, for unknown reasons (wanted a long-awaited daughter, had free views, she was too lazy to pay attention to her son?) .
The work of the director is clear, to interest, to try to explain, to help understand the main character, of course, the director coped with the task.
My subjective opinion, homosexuality and lesbian games are actually a very important topic, because the more people come to the side of sexual minorities, the closer we are to the decline of the human race, this is a large-scale company, I do not know who or what planned. It is bitter to realize that we are striving to exterminate ourselves, and on the ruins of our artificially cultivated laws, contrary to nature, we offer to live our children (and will they be born at all?).
In this film, love works wonders: first, the boy becomes almost a girl, falling in love with his mother, but then he becomes a boy, falling in love with a beautiful charming girl. So who is this hero really?
It's not that simple. Here and some psychologists today suggest that gender is not ambiguous - "he-she" and "he-she", and multi-valued, and the result depends only on the ratio of the two principles in a particular person. Even if this corresponds to reality, each person still corresponds to some identity, and does not hang out from one to another.
But in the movie, it doesn't work that way. The boy fell in love with his mom? Then he has to say something like, 'When I grow up, I'll marry you.' That's what many boys say. But the hero imitates his mother, as happens when, for example, a girl tries to be like a classmate, presented as an ideal. That is, the love of the hero to his mother is not the love of the male principle, he has no jealousy for his father. And the mother is masculine (which is natural in male performance), and it is logical that she can arouse the love of a woman for herself.
Now, well, he's in love with his mom, but he's not gay at all. But why does he fall in love with Jerome? Why is he going to a gay club? Why follow the man who invited him? And finally, love for mother does not change physiology. Why is he not happy with the schoolboys at the boarding school? Does he not feel his own maturation?
Yes, you can probably raise a feminine young man if you treat him like a girl: dress up in a dress, give perfume and jewelry, and so on. But the inner self will still take its own – he will not become a girl, but will only be pampered. In the film, there is not even such an impact: the hero is not only not raised as a “girl”, but constantly show him displeasure, bewilderment about his manner, and the brothers so simply tease. He himself, by design, makes himself a girl - what is it if he does not have such inclinations? I will not list other episodes - there are many - which can not be explained only by love for my mother.
I didn't find the movie funny. Maybe because some of the episodes that claim to be laughing are ambiguous, while others are more pity or annoyance. And I don’t like comics either.
The most important thing, I think, is that the film kind of primitivizes a very serious problem: most scientists do not support (unlike some famous figures) the idea of changing gender through influence. And I don’t think it’s worthy to be complacent about what science has not yet figured out, and what is really very dramatic for some young people.
The French are a little sanguine. That’s what I thought after watching the movie, which they considered an absolute masterpiece of this year. The special prize in Cannes and 9 (!) nominations for the César Award (the French equivalent of the Oscar) speak for themselves. The film was created by a man named Guillaume Gallienne, who apparently decided to turn inside out - and tell the autobiographical story of his late "gender identity." The problems of the young man are associated with a despotic mother, under whose rule he was all his childhood. She stubbornly does not want to recognize him as a male being, as a result of which he considers himself a girl - and in everything imitates first his mother, then his grandmother, then his aunts, and then all other women whose behavior finds extremely attractive.
Rumor has it that French psychoanalysts advise their clients to see this picture as a therapeutic agent. I don't know if therapy is a work of art, but as a movie, it's not good. In any case, for a normal person who realized himself as a small man early on. This is what happens at an early age to all of us men. However, it turns out, not with everyone. Some people have a problem with this.
Initially, Guillaume Gallienne created a performance based on his gender experiences, which was very sensational in France. The French, as far as I understand, bribed frankness and touching. Yes, Guillaume’s hero in his own way is a kind of rustic fool, who does not fit well into the surrounding reality, where normal life is much more comfortable. Our viewer, however, he most of all reminds the heroes of Efim Shifrin or Khazanov with his student of culinary technical school. Same quiet intonation, same faint cracked voice. Guillaume Gallienne's monologue sounds very, very similar. And also, by the way, from the theater stage. The film is furnished as a kind of theatrical action, where the actor Guillaume Gallienne gives an idea - telling about himself, his mother, his brothers, father, numerous psychoanalysts, life in boarding houses, about Spain, England, the German resort ... In one of the boarding houses, by the way, he even falls in love with a guy, but he prefers girls. After that, Guillaume falls into the pool.
I had a wary feeling that, with the help of Guillaume Gallienne and his creations, Europe was once again struggling with the “male nature” that plagued it. The male has been tried to “burden”, turn into a gay man, implant in him the female principle for several centuries in a row – and all for one purpose only – out of fear of aggressive male nature. Because the new times no longer require a man to be a breadwinner, aggressor and dominant in the family. He was made equal to a woman in status and want to achieve the same on a behavioral level - while it turns out bad, the man is too wild and unbridled, but they work on it. And then Guillaume Gallienne appears in his image of the “sub-man” – and Europe welcomes him with open arms – this is exactly the image that they so lack. In the world of women, such a “man” (in a diminutively affectionate form) will look as good as possible. However, this is the case with the topic ...
The picture is shot in a variety manner - with an uneasy irony of the hero in relation to himself. Yes, dressed as a woman Gallienne causes affection, he is quite "nice" - do not want to be beaten and hurt, such a guy wants to protect. You catch yourself thinking that gay people are, in fact, pretty nice people. But at the same time, there are disgusting homosexual scenes in the film - this is an episode when Guillaume is mistaken for an "Arab whore" or when he realizes that he "does not like to ride stallions."
At the same time, the viewer is deceived from the very beginning, passing the film as a comedy. The genre is defined solidly - comedy. But there's nothing funny about the picture. I mean, nothing at all. In the monologues of Efim Shifrin and Gennady Khazanov there is, but in the monologues of Guillaume Galienne - not. Perhaps the problem is with the author. He's totally devoid of humor. And laughing at the problems of a person who is not too mentally healthy is, sorry, fired. This may have amused the French public. But again, she seems to have gone mad.
The ending in the picture is such that I considered it a happy ending - although I foresaw something similar, given the reasoning on the topic above. I don't know how you'll feel about the ending. If, of course, you look at this rather boring psychoanalytic “masterpiece” to the end – this is not easy, I will tell you, although the picture is very short.
3 out of 10
When choosing what to watch I wanted to laugh, in one word, an easy, memorable comedy. I think this movie is a good comedy. Well, that's what the description says. And here I am in anticipation, good humor. Launched a movie.
Alas. It turned out that the humor is so subtle and light that after watching the whole film, I only smiled once and then when the main character was massaged. Here she is and a barrel of tar, humor is not sparkling and not tangible, in a word, no. But maybe this is the meaning of French subtle humor.
I read reviews, all positive and praise the brilliant humor. A, because there is no humor of this.
There used to be a lot of humor. How many comedy films have been produced. In which they starred in the lead roles, fine actors Louis de Funes, Bourville, Pierre Richard, Jean-Paul Belmondo ...
But here is a new format of comedy, where the main character is not a humorist, but a playwright. And where all the same jokes come up as in American Pie and similar movies. And the main character Guillaume, he does not know what he wants, and rushes between two sides. But, the question arises, if this is an autobiographical picture, why was it worth raising the history of its formation? Simply put, why pull out dirty laundry all over the world, even in the form of satire?
I'm going from a barrel of tar to a spoonful of honey. What I liked about this film is that Guillaume Gallienne reveals the psychology of women and logic, which is often a secret for many men. The film has many interesting moments and situations that explain to the viewer how women perceive a particular situation.
The actors coped with the game well, the musical accompaniment is good. Overall, my review is neutral because there were positives and neutrals in the film. My imho is a one-time movie.
"Boys and Guillaume, to the table!" How to Stop Being a “Mother’s Boy”
The participant of “Comedie-Francaise” made his first film, satisfying at the same time the needs of high-brow critics and viewers, content with simple and understandable films. Guillaume Gallienne for his work on the topic of difficult and mostly unhealthy relationships, received a nomination for the main French film award “Cesar” and prizes from the professional community at the Cannes Festival.
“Boys and Guillaume, to the table!” is a difficult movie, that is, artistically it fully meets the requirements of clarity and correct pictorial forms, but at the same time is in deep opposition to the concept of “primitive”. Gallienne planned and directed his film from beginning to end very clearly, observing the temporal and artistic rhythm, without missing any nuances and leaving no frame aside - everything plays its part, everything is put in place. Even if you do not like the theme of the film or any other substantive nuances, it is still impossible not to admit that Guillaume Gallienne is a very talented director.
A boy named Guillaume will go through a difficult path of growing up not only physiologically, but also morally, on which he will have to solve the problems of gender identity and sexual identity. And on this path, Guillaume will be accompanied by his mother, sometimes invisible, but always tangible.
Laughter and tears will become a single emotion, and the questions about sexual orientation (of which variants are the norm) that Gallienne puts at the center of his film will suddenly turn out to be not what the director wanted to show. The main motive of the film is the relationship of the hero with his mother. And let the film radiate ease and cheerful mood, Gallienne will end it on a serious note. Having stopped burlesque at once, he in the first person (in fact, the whole film he comments on what is happening on the screen from the theater stage) will utter important words that will explain all the reasons for the eccentric behavior of the main character and put everything in its proper places.
Giving the main character his name and appearance, Gallienne tells a partly autobiographical story, completely reincarnating from Guillaume-actor in Guillaume-fictional character. In addition, he plays his own mother (it must be said brilliantly), and also appears before the audience in the image of Empress Sisi. This is not for the sake of laughter and comedy. Being both Guillaume and his own mother, Gallienne vividly illustrates the main problem of the film, namely what it means to be a “mommy’s son” and how dangerous and traumatic it is. A true psychoanalysis, presented in the form of a feature film.
The film "Boys and Guillaume, to the table!" begins with the fact that the actor Guillaume erases theatrical makeup from his face, as he has to play his most important and most difficult role - to be himself and live life. This role will have to give everything without a trace. Amazing in its candor picture, which can only be admired and guessed, how the director Gallienne managed to create a genuine creation of art and do it so effortlessly and easily.
P.S. For those who are in their 20s, and they all continue to be unhealthy and inextricably connected with their own mother, putting her at the center of their lives (sweating, listening and bowing), it is for them that Guillaume Gallienne’s film is intended in the first place. In the form of a comedy, he demonstrates the horror of the situation when “love” goes too far and turns the “beloved son” into a traumatized person who cannot decide how to live and cannot love anyone but his mother, who becomes an idol.
The psychiatrist drove me into a terrible depression.
The great thing about Guillaume Gallienne’s film is that it’s just a story. According to the principle that every artist should be guided by, the author of this film does not condemn anyone, does not teach or draw any conclusions about life as a whole, he simply tells about what was and what is. It narrates with the ease and ability to balance on an invisible edge, characteristic only of French cinema, without going to extremes.
And the fact that history is based on one’s own life is certainly courage. There is a lot more author in the film than it may seem at first glance. And this once again underlines the seriousness with which this "non-serious" film was created about such important things.
How often do we strive to meet someone else’s expectations, sometimes without even knowing what is expected of us? How often do we want to be better, as long as we are loved, and do not realize that the people for whom we try, accept us, no matter what.
This film is primarily for the viewer, able to think and feel beyond stereotypes.
Do not rush to label people – perhaps the author’s only appeal to the audience. Otherwise, just look. The freedom to draw conclusions is yours.
A well-deserved ovation at the Cannes Film Festival.
In conclusion, I would like to say that it was doubly wonderful to attend the premiere, in which the director (and the lead actor) presented the film himself. Full room, and applause like in Cannes.
I learned about the premiere of the film from a French psychoanalyst and waited a long time, periodically searched the network and finally watched. The film exceeded all my expectations because it turned out to be very different.
I'd like to start with Guillaume's parallel-inclusive comments from the stage, during the whole thing. It seemed to me the most necessary and central accent. As a rethinking of what happened before, from a new position, in a new light, in a true sense, with adult eyes. Guillaume’s understanding of himself is very great – everything unconsciously done and felt then is consciously accepted now. It's the lightness, the humor and the simplicity of such a difficult and serious personal story.
How deeply illustrated is the choice of a sexual object. Guillaume's surprise is so true and understandable - being like a mom doesn't always mean sleeping with your dad. The loved ones of the hero got confused and decided to confuse him, but the Only correct logic in the psyche does not exist, everyone has his own life story, his cause-and-effect relationship and his grief. So he managed to keep his mother in himself and fall in love with a woman. There's no "or," there's an "and."
Watch everyone interested. Great pleasure will be enjoyed by those who are familiar with the teachings of Freud, Lacan and other classics of psychoanalysis.
Bravo! No director is better than life, which once I find confirmation of this.
10 out of 10
From the advertising trailer, applause fell: “Duddy”, “Virtue”, “Hilarious, brilliant, amazing”! So many compliments to one film - truth or flattery?
We all know that all means are good for attracting the viewer to the cinema. Write some seedy newspaper with a circulation of 10 copies about the third-rate film “Masterpiece!”, as this quote instantly grab the distributors.
Well, I thought we'd see...
The film fascinated from the very first shot. There are tapes, the authors of which go out of their way to impress / shock / make talk, but nothing comes out - too fake, too fake.
“Me, Me and Mom Again” is the purest, most perfect film not about finding yourself, but about an amazing discovery made at the moment when the labels seem to have already entrenched themselves in the subcortex of a person’s life and determined his fate.
The stunning performance of Guillaume Gallienne, who played two main roles, deserves the highest praise. He was so virtuoso that right up to the final credits, I wondered: is he himself in the role of a mother?! And when I found out that Gallienne is also a director and a screenwriter, I sincerely admired this talented man.
I have to say a few words about the name. It is a pity that once again the distributors, according to some unknown logic, refused the original name of the film and gave it their own (which, moreover, echoes another famous comedy). The original title is "Boys and Guillaume, to the table!" It contains a certain meaning, which becomes especially evident towards the end, when "Boys and Guillaume" is replaced by "Girls and Guillaume". In both cases, Guillaume does not belong to the general category, neither boys nor girls. He stands alone and does not feel offended or deprived. He's just a special guy.
The film is billed as a comedy, but Gallienne managed to wrap a slightly sad story in this beautiful and funny wrapper. Surely many in the place of the main character would suffer from the question of finding themselves, Guillaume feels great. And even when he learns that the Spanish dances in a feminine manner, it seems to upset him only for a few seconds. What a dance it was!
I subscribe to every compliment given to this brilliant film. He is really daring, virtuoso, hilarious, amazing and even, let it be so, genius.
I haven't laughed like that in a long time. No doubt in the home collection to review every two years. Energetic French comedy - in one breath, not for a minute slowed down.
The story of growing up in the best traditions of films by Jean Pierre Genet. The special gloss is that the hero is not a dandelion girl, but a boy-girl-dandelion. I don’t remember anyone else talking so lightly and wittyly about sexual identity. Along the way, going through all the vulgar stereotypes and clichés. Therefore, the picture is not only funny and charming, but also useful.
A good movie is noticeable immediately when each episodic hero can become the main character. And even a pity that the crazy aunt from the English boarding house appeared only in two scenes.
Five points for a parody of The Lonely Man. And to the soundtrack. Don't miss it.
The film-winner of the special program 66 of the Cannes International Film Festival tells the story of a young guy named Guillaume (Guillaume Gallienne), who idolizes his mother so much that he imitates her manners and dresses like her. This behavior of a young guy puzzles his father, and his peers think he is gay.
The film, the plot and comic basis of which is built around the relationship of a young man with his mother and society, in many ways resembles the latest works of Pedro Almodóvar. The film is highly theatrical and therefore even more comical. The original title of the film was "Boys and Guillaume, at the Table!" The plot of the picture was based on the eponymous and partly autobiographical play by Guillaume Gallienne.
“Me, Me, and Mother Again” is definitely a movie. Guillaume Gallienne appears in the film as the scriptwriter, director and lead actor. Gallienne has played more than fifty roles in cinema and is very popular in France, but virtually unknown outside the country. Russian viewers could see Guillaume Gallienne in episodic roles in such films as Asterix and Obelix in Britain (2012), National Treasure: Book of Secrets (2007).
The acting ensemble of the picture perfectly complement Françoise Fabian, Diana Kruger, Goetz Otto and Charlie Anson.
The film was produced by Cyril Colbault-Justin and Jean-Baptiste Dupont, known for their work on the films “Untouchables” (2011) and “Promenade Orfevre, 36” (2004).
An ironic, sometimes uncontrollable laughter narrative in which the same actor plays a growing man of different ages is unusual to observe. Guillaume Gallien is not trying to make it clear that now we will see history and be able to form an opinion about it. It's his retelling of history, just his vision -- he doesn't need our interpretation. He has already interpreted it - as witty as possible, as critical as possible, not sparing in the images of himself and his adored mother.
What is this, a story about finding yourself? A story about becoming yourself? But one thing is for sure, it's not about choice. This story says there is no choice. But the problem is that in the Russian information space it is difficult to watch this film and just enjoy the script and directorial findings (which are a lot), in the Russian information space it is a film that our favorite language – the language of grotesque humor – says that people are what they are, do not try to remake them, you can laugh at anyone, but everyone has the right to exist. When it finally becomes an axiom for the Russian audience, then we can talk about Freudianism and theatricality.
There hasn’t been anything like this in French cinema for 5 years. Guillaume expanded the scope, left the usual genres: and you can not say at first glance what it is: drama or comedy, melodrama or farce, most importantly, it is a monologue. A monologue that can lead the narrator as far as you want and leads.
Initially, this autobiographical theatrical production triumphantly passed through the cities of France: people sympathized with Guillaume the narrator in his difficult fate and the choice that arose before him, and then Gallien decided to make a movie so that the whole world would know his heartwarming and touching story. It was a great success!
He left part of the narrative in the form of a monologue from the stage, which constantly changes into voice-over, selected actors for key roles, and he performed two characters: himself and his own mother. Watching it is incredibly exciting and exciting at the same time.
Guillaume’s story, which can be called a modern version of Proust’s manner, is full of numerous details, delicacies, but thanks to euphemisms and the richness of the language, never slips into vulgarity. The reason for this is the bourgeois atmosphere of Guillaume’s upbringing. You will feel all these subtleties and will not be able to resist mimi.
Well, it is worth noting Françoise Fabian in the role of grandmother, which is simply magnificent.
Watch this movie because it’s one of the best films in France this year and will definitely remain a cult movie. I recommend it.