The Intouchables

In the heart-wrenching and unforgettable drama, "The Intouchables," a film directed by Olivier Nakache and Éric Toledano, a true-life story emerges that defies convention and defies the odds of human connection. Based on the real-life experiences of Philippe Pozzo di Borgo, a paraplegic aristocrat, and Driss, his unlikely caregiver, the movie chronicles an extraordinary friendship that transcends the limitations of their very different backgrounds. Philippe (François Cluzet) is a quadriplegic, confined to his ornate Parisian apartment, reliant on others for every aspect of his daily life. With wealth and privilege, he has become isolated, disenchanted, and disillusioned with his life. His sense of hopelessness deepens, despite the best efforts of his caretakers. When his personal assistants desert him, he finds it particularly unbearable, exemplifying his desperation. On the other hand, Driss (Omar Sy) is a young man from the low-income housing projects of Seine-Saint-Denis, a place plagued by unemployment, crime, and social inequality. An unpolished and cunning outsider, Driss brings a charismatic honesty and a refreshingly raw sense of humor into the stifling world of Philippe's upper-class existence. Despite a bleak job rating assessment – Driss receives a 'non-suited' answer after walking into Philippe's house without an appointment – he decides to apply for a caregiver position thinking it's a 'joke,' but a temporary means to be present for days while he reapplies for his school exams. He finds a sense of ease interacting and playing with Philippe, at first, seemingly unaware of his actual condition. Philippe is delighted by Driss's carefree and seemingly reckless attitude and humor, a change from the clinical detachment and numbness that has defined his post-accident life. In turn, Driss is drawn to Philippe's world of wealth, privilege, and sense of entitlement – an unbridgeable gap for the impoverished youth. Initially unimpressed by Driss's lack of experience, Philippe becomes the motivator in his young friend's chaotic life. Philippe and Driss form an endearingly improbable bond that tests the boundaries of his isolation. They do the unthinkable: they bring order, hope, and laughter into each other's worlds. By the sheer power of their company, they challenge the conditions of their lives. Philippe, with his wealth and high expectations, begins to reconnect with the world. While Driss learns that his charm, wit, and street smarts can bring a lot to a very exclusive, cloistered community. From the beginning, their interactions are imperfectly intertwined; as they have absolutely no knowledge of each other's life before the encounter – each at one point or another, unwilling, feeling isolated or stuck. But as weeks transform to months, their connection solidifies. Driss, refusing to be sucked into his 'obligations,' constantly breaks the tension around him, which creates unexpected and profound connections with Philippe. Throughout the film, the incredible connection between the two men is reinforced by beautiful, telling scenes that demonstrate their shifting relationship. The juxtaposition of contrasting environments adds a further dimension to their camaraderie – like watching a sports documentary, one half on TV at home watching for hours a half-hour sports game and in his wheelchair trying to move because there are absolutely too many of these situations for which they have zero control over things at all. In capturing the experiences of his own life, and within many a vivid montage, the director interweaves life's complex issues of loneliness and isolation that each is forced to face. From a practical standpoint, the two develop a form of give-and-take understanding and tolerance. Philippe, despite his reliance on mobility aids, learns to assert himself with confidence. Meanwhile, Driss taps into his existing ingenuity and persuasive instincts to care for his 'sir' more effectively and more sustainably. A bond born from unlikely beginnings flourishes instead, one of the more difficult things to comprehend as Driss gently coaxes a part of the wheelchair-bound Philippe he may as well have lost forever – revealing that sometimes incredible growth stems from vulnerability, trust, and the very imperfections inherent to human interaction.