The Barbarian Invasions ('03) 2003, Rated R Buena Vista

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A Buena Vista release.  Written and directed by Denys Arcand; starring Remy Girard and Stephane Rousseau.< Released to DVD on July 13, 2004.

I find movies that focus on cancer to be a strange lot.  No matter how many comedic moments there are in the film and no matter how rich and deep the characters are, the overall tone of the project is downtrodden because, by the end of the film, the lovable lead is dead.  Seemingly designed to make the audience depressed, I consistently wonder the same thing after viewing movies like this: why are people going to want to see this?

First introduced to film audiences in 1986‚Äôs The Decline of the American Empire, Remy (Remy Girard) is a glib, sarcastic and liberal college professor living in Montreal.  Diagnosed with cancer‚Äîthough it‚Äôs never really discussed‚ÄîRemy has one wish: to reconcile with his son Sebastian (Stephane Rousseau) before he dies.  Learning of this, Sebastian begrudgingly flies to Montreal from his home in London to spend time with his dying father. 

There is, of course, a learning curve to Remy and Sebastian‚Äôs relationship.  Remy is a strong proponent in merryment and evenings with friends; Sebastian believes in the power of money.  The two have trouble getting past this obstacle in their value systems. 

Things start to change for the better when Sebastian makes the decision to invite Remy’s life-long friends and ex-wives to join Remy and him in an on-going celebration of his father’s life.

Arcand has a knack for creating a subtle, dry humor in his scenes that helps The Barbarian Invasions move along with a smooth rhythm and a gentle harmony.  Coupled with the project‚Äôs engaging and three-dimensional characters, Arcand has produced a truly moving and well-made film.  With this in mind, it was a shame that so much of my enjoyment dissipated during the lead up to the film‚Äôs climactic moments.  There are moments of life, happiness and fulfillment in The Barbarian Invasions, I just wish I could have remembered more of them in the days after my viewing.<

chris neumer

yes, it's true:

YES, IT‚ÄôS TRUE: The consensus in Hollywood and in the entertainment industry is that for an optimal box office you want to release a sequel two years after the original film.  The Barbarian Invasions followed the first film in its series by seventeen years.