I didn't realise this Canadian-French film was a follow-up to the 1986 film The Decline of the American Empire, from returning director Denys Arcand, and it was formerly featured in the book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, so I hoped for something good. Basically, set seventeen years after the events of The Decline of the American Empire, successful financier Sébastien (Stéphane Rousseau) works in London, England. He receives a call from his mother Louise (Dorothée Berryman) in France that his father and her ex-husband, former college history professor Rémy (Rémy Girard), is terminally ill with cancer. Rémy became estranged from his son after his many adulteries, including several of their closest friends becoming mistresses, as well as some of his students. Sébastien blames his father and his philandering for breaking up the family. Rémy meanwhile disapproves of Sébastien's career, lack of reading or fondness for video games. Rémy wants to reconcile and talk with his family, friends and former lovers before he dies. The father and son travel to the USA to the state of Vermont to briefly receive medical care before returning to Montreal, Quebec and its overcrowded and disorganized hospital. Sébastien attempts to bribe hospital staff for better care, and calls Rémy's old friends about a possible visit. He also manages to get some heroin, which is apparently more effective than morphine, for Rémy from a drug addict, Nathalie (Marie-Josée Croze). Rémy is reunited with his friends, including Pierre Citrouillard (Pierre Curzi), Dominique St. Arnaud (Dominique Michel), Claude (Yves Jacques) and Diane Leonard (Louise Portal), Nathalie's mother, and they share a conversation on their past sex exploits. Diane is concerned for Nathalie, while Rémy gives one of his professional lectures to the hospital staff. During this, the September 11 attacks is mentioned as being historically small except as a possible beginning of modern barbarian invasions. Rémy and his friends retreat to the countryside, and Sébastien have a meaningful conversation. Rémy decides he is ready to die, and in the company of his family and friends, Nathalie injects him with a high dose of heroine until he passes away. After his father's funeral, Sébastien catches a plane to return to London. Also starring Marina Hands as Gaëlle and Johanne-Marie Tremblay as Sister Constance Lazure. It does not really matter if you have not seen or do not remember the previous film, it does not depend on familiarity, it can be seen as a stand-alone, the story of loved ones and companions brought together to celebrate the life of a dying man, with both moving and amusing moments, a worthwhile comedy-drama. Very good!
Review of The Barbarian Invasions
