Canadian Film Forum

Grand_Shaman · Administrator Data inscrierii: 26/Oct/2007 Mesaje: 112

Les Invasions Barbares (2003) - dir. Denys Arcand

LES INVASIONS BARBARES (2003) - Denys Arcand LES INVASIONS BARBARES (2003) - Denys Arcand

AWARDS

Prix Jutra du meilleur film, 2004 : Les Invasions barbares, réalisé par Denys Arcand
César du meilleur film 2004 : Les Invasions barbares, réalisé par Denys Arcand
César du meilleur réalisateur 2004 : Denys Arcand, pour les Invasions barbares
César du meilleur scénario autentic ou adaptation 2004 : Denys Arcand, pour les Invasions barbares
Oscar du meilleur film en langue étrangère 2003 (décerné en 2004) : Invasion of the Barbarians (les Invasions barbares), réalisé par Denys Arcand
Festival de Cannes 2003, Prix du scénario : Denys Arcand, pour les Invasions barbares
Festival de Cannes 2003, Prix d'interprétation féminine : Marie-Josée Croze, pour les Invasions barbares

We are mid-way into our course on Canadian film, and I have to say that I feel you have to do more about what is the very essence of this course. That is: Becoming more articulate about the films we watch. Be able to comment them.

So far the forum has been under-used. Every week we had a whiteboardful of questions you yourselves had carried forward for forum debate, and that few (if any) ever bothered to answer here.

What is wrong?

I undersand that some of you have had objections --moral or aesthetic-- about "Le declin de l'empire americain". You might be right, you might be wrong. Either way, you must be open to dialogue. You have to develop your ability to see and discuss films not as LIFE but as a MEANS of EXPRESSION (aesthetic, cultural, political or other).

If you expect films to just confirm your life philosophy or your religion, then you came to the wrong place. Art films (as opposed to the Hollywood/Bollywood visual chewing gum) will seldom do that. They will rather CHALLENGE your philosophy, your moral and your religion.

Films -- I mean films for responsible adults -- don't preach. Films show and let you do the rest.

nico_kerekes · Junior Data inscrierii: 16/Mar/2009 Mesaje: 9

I consider that 'Les invasions barbares' has it all to be a great film. It is different from the typical Hollywood happy ending films. What can be added to the list we filled in in class regarding the “invasions” in the film (which I consider to be the most striking example of invasion) is illness and loneliness
all the characters suffer from one invasion…

One of the questions raised was whether the film advocates for assisted suicide.
This is what I found related to the difference between euthanasia and assisted suicide

”One way to distinguish them is to look at the last act - the act without which death would not occur.

Using this distinction, if a third party performs the last act that intentionally causes a patient's death, euthanasia has occurred. For example, giving a patient a lethal injection or putting a plastic bag over her head to suffocate her would be considered euthanasia.

On the other hand, if the person who dies performs the last act, assisted suicide has taken place. Thus it would be assisted suicide if a person swallows an overdose of drugs that has been provided by a doctor for the purpose of causing death. It would also be assisted suicide if a patient pushes a switch to trigger a fatal injection after the doctor has inserted an intravenous needle into the patient's vein.” (http://www.euthanasia.com/)

We could say that the film advocates for assisted suicide. The scene is just another one which shows how people disregard religious principles (since the church is against these actions)

This was Quebec poster for Les invasions barbares

[url=http://www.99poze.ro/p/3f8d0ff6dd277aa839d5a452d2859b3f.jpg] LES INVASIONS BARBARES (2003) - Denys Arcand LES INVASIONS BARBARES (2003) - Denys Arcand

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Grand_Shaman · Administrator Data inscrierii: 26/Oct/2007 Mesaje: 112

Nico,

Thanks for these clarifications. So, if I get it right, euthanasia occurs when the patient (comatose..) has no way of expressing consent (or dissent, for that matter), while assisted suicide occurs when the patient agrees to the act, even as the act is performed by another person.

That would make one sinner against two sinners, from a religious p.o.v., that is. Right?

Michelle1

Out of the Canadian movies we've watched so far, this was the best - in my opinion.
We've said a lot of things about Les invasions barbares after we've watched it on Thursday.
What really stuck with me was the view upon history that is shown in the discussions Remy had with his nurse. "The history of mankind is a history of horrors." And you realise it's true when you think of all the wars, battles and mass murders... Hopefully the nurse was right and there is a God out there, to forgive us. The conversations between these two characters seemed to me like and ideological fight between the guilty and the innocent - a contonuous struggle between the bad (wars, bombs etc.) that we inherited throughout history and the good (faith, religion - regardless of its kind) that kept us going.

Another thing that really caught my attention was when Remy's daughter said that "the first man in a woman's life is her father". It makes excelent sense, because the first man a girl gets attached to is her father and some psychologists do say that a girl's relationship with her father will mark her future relationships with men.

How did Remy's death change the ones around him?
First of all, it brought his family back toegether. His son and daughter were estranged. His son blamed him for the breaking of the family and of his mother's heart and for this reason barely spoke to his father. Throughout the movie we witness how Remy and his son get closer and closer together, everyhting culminating with the hug and exchange of "I love you" that occured minutes before Remy's death.

More to come... soon.... so... brb.
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Michelle Smile

ralucarat · Trimis: 03/01/2010 15:55 Titlul subiectului:

It was quite a touching movie to watch. The story is a common one, but the way in which it is told makes it unique. The kind of relation that Sebastien has with his father Remy is up-to-date: a father who lives more in the past, with his out-of-date values and believes and a son who is a stubborn representative of newly capitalist, with a wealthy lifestyle and the best job. Even though Remy doesn’t agree with his son’s life and looks at him as being the symbol of the “barbarian invasions”, during the plot these “barbarian invasions” prove to be his escape from a painful death. Sebastien’s considerable wealth makes it possible for Remy to have access to better conditions of hospitalization, to watch his daughter’s message from the sea, to have his treasured friends, colleagues, and mistresses around him in these last moments of his life, and even to have less pain due to the heroine Sebastien buys. As Sebastien works with all his energy to offer his father all these, the relationship between them becomes stronger.

Beside the dark story of the ill Remy, Denys Arcand also incudes into the plot subjects as euthanasia, the use of illegal drugs to ease terminal medical conditions, historical facts that we discover in different conversations between Remy and his nurse and the Canadian/Quebecois public health care system with its crowded conditions, the corruption of the hospital administrators and union leadership.

One of the most powerful scenes in the movie for me was the last scene of the film, set at the lakeside cabin. The way in which everyone gathers there for Remy’s easier and happier death is quite remarkable. I think everyone of us would like to have such a gathering in the moments preceding our death.
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Raluca Rat

ana_leonte · Trimis: 07/01/2010 17:00 Titlul subiectului:

“Les invasions barbares” – this movie deals with many complex problems, different aspects of life such as: religion, history, values, family, love, fidelity, forgiveness, guilt, sex, the meaning of life etc., problems that we all have to deal with in a certain clipă of our lives. I found it to be very interesting but a little hard to watch because it was so full of information. (Mais je ne regret rien.)
That’s why I think that the numerous humorous moments in the film had the role to relax the audience. :-P

It was intriguing that the world didn’t seem to be pictured in a holistic manner (the world as a whole; holism – another “ism” :-D

), but seen by every character in a different way, with different perspectives on life, different points of view. Nevertheless all the world is invaded by “les barbares” (the technology, immigrants, corruption, ignorance, the need to fulfill the immediate pleasures). The dialogues between the characters were delicious: witty, well-documented, pertinent, at times amusing.
The characters have lost their religious beliefs and values (this is not happening only to them, but everywhere – ex. the religious statues are “worthless” because they have no economic value). In their case, one of the reasons may be the fact that they are all intellectuals (highly educated).
Therefore is not surprising that Remy cannot find a meaning in life. It would have been easier for him to find it through religion. Having no meaning in his life, he cannot die, because he has to search for a meaning. Death is rapidly approaching, so it is seen as an enemy (Remy did not accept the idea of embracing death). An interesting answer that changes everything, comes from Sister Constance: “embrace the mystery and you’ll be saved”.
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"Death solves all problems - no man, no problem." :D > Smile

Chioran Claudia · Trimis: 13/01/2010 19:34 Titlul subiectului:

The life is not just a black and white picture. Is a long string of compromises. This film demonstrated it to us. Singular circumstances request special measures. All that in a natural situation look like a “barbarian” measure, in extreme situations seems like something normal. It is a question of perspective.
How can we accept that the treatment with drugs, without doctor’s advice, is the only solution? How can we accept euthanasia for human been? How can we accept a junkie to treat our parents? It is outrageous.
What about all moral, legal, rational solutions are exhausted? What can we do? Maybe we, almost all, will try at least one of those “barbarian” solutions. Like I said, it is a question of perspective.

adela_bm2007 · Trimis: 01/02/2010 14:02 Titlul subiectului:

LES INVASIONS BARBARES est avant tout une reflexion sur notre epoque.On trouve ici de tout:le drame ou bonne humeur,cynisme et chaleur, personnages qui se moque a l'ombre de la mort,des hommes sans valeurs,sans religion.LE THEME DE L'EUTHANASIE?CHOQUANT.ET QUI SONT "LES BARBARES".cE MONDE DESHUMANISE OU TOUT S'ACHETE A COUP DE DOLLARS.un monde froide et sordide.

Grand_Shaman · Administrator Data inscrierii: 26/Oct/2007 Mesaje: 112

Grand_Shaman · Administrator Data inscrierii: 26/Oct/2007 Mesaje: 112

Turda Simona · Junior Data inscrierii: 28/Apr/2010 Mesaje: 11

It was a very strange movie for me, but what affected me a lot was the way they all decided to end this poor man's torture..they inject him heroin and in the end give him an overdose..the man stays sober and accepts the reality and seems not to be afraid of death axcept for the moment they say goodbye to each other and he starts crying i think this is the moment he realizez it will all finish now..

Turda Simona · Junior Data inscrierii: 28/Apr/2010 Mesaje: 11

Another thing that I find interesting is the way his son takes care of him iven if teh man doesn't want anyhow to leave his room, he pays averyone just to make him feel more confortable, he even pays his students to come and visit him(fact that really made an impression on his father, even if he wondered how come they came to visit him), but the girl doesn't take the money she feels guilty for that and refuses to cope with them.

Turda Simona · Junior Data inscrierii: 28/Apr/2010 Mesaje: 11

I think in this movie everyone suffers, everyone has a problem, the poor sick man which is by the way still a ''pervert'' and stubborn one and refuses any help from his son despite the fact he loves him very much but doesn'y know how to show it, then the lady whose daughter was doing drugs, their relationship isn't a terrific one, they all seem to have a promblem