Claude Lelouch’s fifty-first film released on November 13, “Finally” features Kad Merad as a lawyer who decides to give up everything following a stroke. Across France and in music, he asserts his truths without filter, particularly on the #MeToo era. Cleaving.
In an increasingly crazy world, lawyer Lino (Kad Merad) has decided to give up everything following a stroke. He then traveled around France, armed with his trumpet which he played on all occasions, to meet friends and meet new people. Little by little, he will become aware of being alive and well and realize that, ultimately, everything is good to have in life.
It is on this thin synopsis that the new film in the form of a musical drama by Claude Lelouch, announced as a testamentary, is based. A fifty-first feature film since 1960 which sees the French director renew his loyalty to the actresses who practically constitute his family and integrate the newcomer Kad Merad. The cast still includes Elsa Zylberstein, Michel Boujenah, Sandrine Bonnaire, François Morel, Françoise Fabian and the singer Barbara Pravi. Trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf pens the music for the film while the lyrics of the songs occupying a large part of “Finally” are by Didier Barbelivien.
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Neither the best nor the worst of Lelouch
Dividing the criticism as usual, this new film by Lelouch alternates the worst (the treatment of the theme of consent with a denunciation of the #MeToo era and a parallel with the period of the Occupation) and the best (the first hour enjoyable with allusions to other of his past works such as “The Good Year” (1973) and “L’aventure c’est l’aventure” (1972)).
Neither the best nor the worst of Lelouch, “Finally” thus appears to have great formal mastery while leaving ample room for improvisation despite its catch-all airs. But spontaneity does not mean truthfulness and it is not enough to create real complicity with the spectators. Especially since the behavior and speeches of an unfiltered Lino who believes that the #MeToo era is relentless against men who just want to have a good time often prove to be as embarrassing as they are limiting.
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“Finally” by Claude Lelouch, with Kad Merad, Elsa Zylberstein, Michel Boujenah. To be seen in French-speaking cinemas since November 13, 2024.
