«Je vais mieux», a good time at the movies

Cinema Wednesdays - Jonas Follonier

Laurent (Eric Elmosnino) is a fifty-something victim of the malady of the century: during a meal with his wife and a couple of friends, he suddenly feels terrible back pain, even though he hasn't made any false moves. The specialists he consulted were unanimous: the cause was psychological. It's hard to pinpoint the problem for a man who's so soft and a victim of human wickedness: is it the harassment he suffers at work, his wife's surprising demand for a divorce, his parents' lack of affection? Or should we consider all these pressures together?

I feel better, is comedy-drama at its most interesting. It's French cinema at its best. But Jean-Pierre Améris also bets on singularity by risking the grotesque. In this film, Quentin Sirjacq's instrumental score serves up a successful zaniness, supported by the talent of the actors, the situational comedy and the originality of the cinematography, as in a short scene in which hotel signs are artificially paraded against the backdrop of Paris at night.

Apart from the delightful Eric Elmosnino, the cast includes Judith El Zein, who excels as the unbearably modern fifty-something: «I need a break. I don't feel like talking to you. I want to be alone.» As for Alice Pol, she's ravishing in her role as the woman who brings tenderness and comfort. We don't even need to mention the unspoiled genius of François Berléand, whose participation lends a more interesting relief to the film's comedy. We did, however, regret the presence of Ary Abittan, who never managed to convince us.

Despite the downside of the supporting role and a few plot holes, I feel better can be enjoyed as a good time on the big screen. This umpteenth comedy verging on the dramatic takes us back to our present or future worries, and transcends them through the lightness of laughter and the Parisian imagination.

Write to the author : jonas.follonier@leregardlibre.com

Photo credit: © Filmcoopi