The First Day Of The Rest Of Your Life

International Film Festival – Wellington ( 17 July/ 2 August) : The First Day Of The Rest Of Your Life

Director: Remi Bezancon
Country: France
Year: 2008
Running time: 114 mins
Genre: Fiction
Producers: Isabelle Grellat, Eric Altamayer, Nicolas Altamayer
Language: French
Subtitles: English
With: Jacques Gamblin, Zabou Breitman, Deborah Francois, Marc-Andre Grondin, Pio Marmai
Awards: Three Cesar (Best Editing, Most Promising Actor and Most Promising Actress)

Synopsis

An ordinary French family meets joy and sorrow as the children gradually leave the familial cocoon. The father, Robert, is a taxi driver with close connections to his children who see him like a friend more than a patriarch. He is in love with his wife Marie-Jeanne, a hippy who decides to return to university and reclaim her identity. The oldest brother Albert, a talented medical student, is the first to leave home. Raphael is next, a passionate lover of wine and guitar, but also quite lazy. Junior sister Fleur is the last to move out. A fan of Curt Cobain, she struggles to find true love, moving from loser to loser - looking for the affection she does not find with her mother.

Each character in this touching tribe goes though life-changing experiences; nothing will be the same again.

Review

The First Day of The Rest Of your Life (‘Le Premier Jour du Reste de Ta Vie’) is the second feature film from promising French director Remi Bezancon. The film was nominated for nine Cesar Awards, and won three. This success in France is no surprise – there is something to relate to in each of the characters; it’s a popular comedy drama that knows how to seduce. We all remember our first sexual experience, our adolescent crises, our first flat, or the day we fell passionately in love.

The rivalries between mother and daughter, the father Robert and son, as well as between Robert and his own father, constantly reference Freud’s Oedipus complex. We feel the inspiration of psychoanalysis throughout the film. Another main topic is the cycle of life. The grandfather passes on his knowledge of oenology to Raphael, the consequence of this hand over, the young man’s future job as a wine-waiter. The links of blood and their influence over our destiny are developed with sharp mind.

The director has chosen simple stories put one after the other, chronologically, and organized by chapters with help of a very good sound track - the wonderful Lou Reed’s song “Perfect day” in particular. These different chapters give the rhythm and never allow boredom.

This realistic French film has some very nice moments and plenty of emotion and truth.

ENDS

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