A Great Friend (Les Choses Simples), is a French film by Éric Besnard starring Lambert Wilson, Gregory Gadebois and [Click "Lire la suite" to read more]
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The heart of friendship © Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash
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The story follows Vincent (Lambert Wilson), a business man and workaholic living a fast life, whose car breaks down in the middle of the French countryside in a small road. Luckily for Vincent, Pierre (Grégory Gadebois), a reclusive rustic, stops and offers his help to Vincent. What starts as a random encounter becomes a turning point in the lives of both men. Isolated in the heart of a luxuriant nature, the two men that everything seems to oppose may even become friends.
The movie came together when Eric Besnard, the director, was inspired by the cinema of John Ford, who could always tell great stories through a simple script with no fuss and twists. The idea was to create a movie about a meeting between two people that should have never met, which was something that start happening less and less in a post covid world, noted the director. And what Éric Besnard wanted to emphasize is that society has taught us to be scared of others, especially if they live a very different life than ours.
Finally, the writer-director was looking to focus on the French countryside and the simplicity of life in rural areas. For that purpose, the movie was shot in the Rhône-Alpes Auvergne region.
For the casting, Éric Besnard knew from the beginning he wanted Grégory Gadebois as Pierre. The two had already made a film together, the mouth-watering movie about French food Delicious (Délicieux). The other role was difficult to cast, especially as the role wasn't written with anyone in mind. But when Lambert Wilson read the script and asked to be the Vincent of the film, then it all clicked for Éric Besnard.
Read more: The top 10 movies with Lambert Wilson
For an American audience, it might be surprising to see Lambert Wilson, aka The Merovigian (also known as the Frenchman) in the Matrix franchise. The French actor has been featured in many American blockbusters: Catwoman, Babylon A.D., Sahara and of course The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolution and The Matrix Resurrection. But in France, Lambert Wilson is known for his roles in award-winning dramas like The Odyssey and Of Gods and Men. A Great Friend shows once again his incredible range as an actor.
Why you should watch Lambert Wilson’s movies if you like French cinema
The opposition between the person coming from Paris and someone from the countryside is a typical theme in French cinema and A Great Friend is no exception. The film explores the cultural differences between the fast-paced life of a city dweller and the slow, peaceful lifestyle of a rural farmer. Throughout the film, we see how people are often scared of what they don't know, but ultimately, through friendship and empathy, can come to understand and appreciate the differences in others.
A Great Friend is a movie that celebrates the beauty of the simple things in life and reminds us of what truly matters. So if you liked it, we suggest you watch these three films
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