Henri Belgium, France 2013 – 103min.

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Henri

Valérie Lobsiger
Movie Rating: Valérie Lobsiger

An in-keeper hires a mentally handicapped woman who becomes infatuated with him.

“Rita was beautiful, but a pain in the ass!” Rita has died unexpectedly. Together with her husband Henri, (the excellent Pippo Delbono) she ran a restaurant near Charleroi. Used to following her orders, the quiet Henri is completely lost. His daughter suggests hiring the services of a “Papillon blanc”, a mentally handicapped person from the institute of the same name. At the wake, Rosette (the amazing Miss Ming) helps serve and, because she fits the bill, is hired. The town is scandalized. Henri is furious and takes off for a weekend at the beach with Rosette. They go for walks, get drunk, dance and play in the sand. They get on very well, but do they have a future together?

Yolande Moreau delivers a film full of innocence and sensitivity, with a touch of defining humor, about “the desire for love, for living despite the emptiness“ (a song by the “Papillons”, themselves professionals from a company of actors who are all mentally handicapped). Contemplative and quiet, Henri and Rosette don’t need much to make them happy. Despite the fact that happiness seems to be beyond their reach.

25.05.2021

4

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