It’s 17 years since Denys Arcand’s The Decline of the American
Empire (which, by the way, will be available on DVD in
October), and The Barbarian Invasions is a continuation of
sorts in the present day. And presently, Rémy (Rémy
Girard) is dying of cancer. He is attended by his wife Louise,
faithfully keeping him company despite his many infidelities, and
eventually by his semi-estranged son Sébastien (Stéphane
Rousseau). Despite strong statements to the contrary, Sébastien
loves his father and goes out of his way to make his last days
full of happiness. He reunites Rémy’s friends from Decline
for a last farewell, while Rémy, the philandering philosopher,
finds meaning in his life through none other than a half-suicidal
heroin addict. Winner of the 2003 Academy Award for Best Foreign
Language Film, and both the Best Actress (Marie-Josée Croze) and
Best Screenplay awards at the Cannes Film Festival.
CRITIQUE
The subtitle is “A funny look at all the things that invade our
lives.” Rémy and Sébastien are both barbarians to each other, too
stubborn to accept each other as different. It’s only when they can no
longer keep each other at arm’s length that they must face each other
(the “Invasion”). Rémy also must face his own past and come to terms
with a life that he isn’t as proud of as he might like, something he
hasn’t had to think about until now.
Arcand uses this metaphor on the individuals in the film, as well as
the institutions depicted (the hospital system in Montreal, union
corruption, etc.), and even on the United States itself. In the most
controversial scene of the film, Arcand replays the second plane
crashing into the World Trade Center on 9/11. The suggestion is that
after such a long time of being able to keep conflict away from our
physical borders, in years to come we may look back on that day as the
beginning of the great barbarian invasions.
Some have criticized the use of 9/11 footage as unnecessary or
self-serving, and in fact even Michael Moore did not use it in his
recent film
Fahrenheit 9/11 (he only used an audio recording). I took it
as a means of making the film personal in a specifically American
context. It’s unpleasant, but that is the way it was intended.
Likewise, the “Invasions” experienced by Rémy and Sébastien are not
easy to take when father and son tell each other to go to hell. But
it’s only through this painful process that they can break down the
walls they’ve put up around each other and come to terms with such
experiences. The original American trailer did mention that the film
is a look at “The events that invade our lives,” and it might be hard
to argue that 9/11 was not one such event. But in any case this
footage was never used as an advertisement or other profit, and if
this seems like it might be overly disturbing, you’ve been warned.
As
dark as some of this may seem, The Barbarian Invasions really
is a celebration of life, love, and friendship. It’s funny more often
than it is sad, and there is not a single wasted scene. Rémy’s
friendship with the heroin-addicted Nathalie (Marie-Josée Croze,
Taking Lives) is especially touching, and Johanne-Marie
Tremblay makes a lot out of a few short scenes as Sister Constance,
another counter to Rémy’s cynical outlook.
Foreign films are often derided as snobby, and The Barbarian
Invasions has several elements working against it in this regard.
Its characters are intelligent, it eschews excitement for human drama,
its humor is witty, and it’s even in French (mostly). But there is no
pretentiousness to be found. Arcand moves things along at a steady
pace, and the film is touching, humorous, and even hopeful.
THE VIDEO
Buena Vista Home Entertainmentpresents The Barbarian
Invasions in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. This is a pretty nice
transfer, with some noticeable edge-enhancement halos, but otherwise
it’s pretty clean. Unless you speak French you won’t care much, as
you’ll be reading the subtitles for much of the film.
THE AUDIO
Buena Vista Home Entertainmentpresents The Barbarian
Invasions in 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound in the original French
language track with English subtitles. Not much here besides dialog,
though that’s not such a bad thing.
THE EXTRAS
Inside the Barbarian Invasions
(50:40) is the lone extra on the DVD, but I found it oddly satisfying.
In this extra the actors come together for a meal and a conversation
about the film, interspersed with cuts from the movie itself. Director
Denys Arcand is absent, the narrator noting that he said everything he
wanted to in the film itself.
The feature works because the group is an exceptionally thoughtful
one. Willing to examine themselves and their generations and even
criticize without derision, their conversation echoes the film’s
thoughtfulness about love, ideology, and life. In the end this extra
works much better than an audio commentary or a making-of featurette
because this is closer in style and tone to the actual film. This may
be the only extra, but unlike many DVDs weighed down with superfluous
additions, this one is actually worth watching.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Well-written, well-acted, and just plain well-made, The Barbarian
Invasions is thoughtful without being arrogant, emotional without
being maudlin, and it tells a good story in just over an hour and a
half. Not bad, Mrs. Arcand.
