38th entry - L' Homme de sa vie (Part 2)

Continued from Part 1

Metaphor
The film uses several metaphors but what stands out is the jogging routine of Frédéric and Hugo. A simple act of exercising, which initially seems like an innocent act of male bonding, becomes a process of change for Frédéric. It represented the routine but stable life that he was accustomed to, which he possibly enjoyed, until he met Hugo. The jogging routine then became a means for him to connect with Hugo and perhaps also his way of satisfying his "illicit" desire for Hugo without being too obvious.

Eating was also used as a metaphor in the film. The family dinner that was supposed to be an ordinary get-together became the impetus for change in the lives of Frédéric, Hugo and Frédérique. At the dinner, Frédéric got his family to taste the sweetness of ordinary, plain bread as it get changed from starch to sugar in the mouth through the enzymes in saliva. The physical change in the chemical properties of bread that will only take place by the act of eating it and allowing the enzymes to turn starch to sugar is a metaphorical expression of the emotional and psychological change that will only take place by Frédéric and Hugo's acting upon their instinct and desire.

I felt that Frédéric's sleeplessness was a metaphor for his lack of fulfillment with his ordinary, stable life. In waking consciousness, Frédéric was bound by his sense of duty as husband and father as well as other practical considerations, and he suppresses his innermost desires. His dissatisfaction with the ordinary manifests itself as a sleeping disorder, and he apparently finds fulfillment in dreams, which were depicted as dreamlike sequences of musicians playing tango music.

Symbolism
In the film Hugo cleverly used natural light to create an ephemeral pattern on the wall. Words on the wall had some missing letters, which were correspondingly printed on the window glass panel, such that sunlight falling through the glass will cast a shadow on the letters and complete the words on the wall. This desire to "capture the moment", like impressionism, is symbolic of the desire to live life for the moment. Not surprisingly, Frédéric was captivated by it because this was his desire - to experience real passion even if it lasted a fleeting moment.

The beautiful field of sunflowers and other parts of the countryside (as depicted in the film's poster) that Frédéric and Hugo walked through en route home was symbolic of the love between them - free, pure and natural. Their journey was like a sweet dream, which ended when Frédéric was brought home to his wife and family, returning once again to reality, duty and commitment.

Moving and still elements are used as contrasting symbols in the film. Flowing water symbolises renewal and rebirth (renaissance) (and perhaps a cleansing of old wounds, in Hugo's case), which parallels the changes taking place in the lives of the characters. It contrasts with still water (e.g. in a cup), symbolising stillness, stability and stagnation, which parallels the current state of affairs in the lives of the characters. Similarly, the strange gusts of wind in the house contrasts the soothing breeze blowing over the grass and sunflowers in the field; this parallels the contrast between the almost contrived bond between Frédéric and his wife and the natural bond between Frédéric and Hugo. The breeze was also a "wind of change" for Frédéric, as he discovers new life beyond the ordinary.

Characters

Frédéric reminds me of a dear friend of mine, who went through a divorce about 6 years ago when he decided to pursue a new life as a gay man. It was a painful process for my friend as well as his wife and 4 children, but it was a necessary decision to end more than 20 years of unhappiness and dissatisfaction with the kind of life that mainstream society expects you to lead. Frédéric can choose to continue living a fabricated lie but it will be at the expense of his own happiness as well as his family's. The film does not make him out to be an irresponsible man, but rather an anguished man with unfulfilled dreams.

Frédérique is the unfortunate wife trying to salvage her marriage. She appears as an understanding, patient, dutiful and faithful wife who loves her husband, dotes on her son and seeks a happy family life. Her dream was shattered when Hugo entered their lives. When she realises that her grip on life was slipping away she struggles to hold on, but it was too late. Her last desperate but futile attempt to persuade her husband to make love to her made her appear defeated, lost and hopeless. She is like her favourite bedroom chair - a perfectly useful piece of furniture in good condition but her husband does not see it the same way (he wanted to get rid of it at one stage but she insisted on retrieving it).

Hugo is a strong man determined to live his own way of life notwithstanding the heavy emotional baggage that he had been carrying with him. He does not believe in commitment and permanence, but seeks to live life for the moment. His past comes back to haunt him, however, and he is forced to confront them - a father who threw him out of the house and a daughter whom he abandoned. He changed when he met Frédéric, finding the courage to face his daughter and reconcile with his family. I found the scene in which he climbed onto his father's dying bed and curled up next to his father is very touching; Hugo's bitterness at being rejected had disappeared when he accepted his own daughter.

Overall critique

I liked the way the film explores certain issues but leaves the assessment to the audience. The dreamlike sequences were a little bizzare and fragmented, but the way the same scene is filmed from different angles and repeated at various points in the film is rather refreshing and interesting. The actors gave a convincing performance and the script was natural. I guess perhaps that the film was a little too heavy on the subtext, symbolism etc but the overall entertainment value rates quite high. If I could give it rating between 1-10 for artistic value, I'd say it scored 9 at least.