The Extraordinary

Director: Olivier Nakache, Eric Toledano
Starring: Vincent Cassel, Reda Kateb, Helene Vincent, Bryan Mialoundama, Benjamin Lusieur, Marco Locatelli
Distributor: Madman Films 
Runtime: 115 mins. Reviewed in Jun 2020

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Rating notes: Mature themes and coarse language

Who is Extraordinary? What is Extraordinary?

Audiences who have seen C’est la Vie, the Intouchables, Samba, and recognise the names of the writers-directors, will be expecting (eagerly) a film about some kind of caregiving.

And that is precisely what happens. The film has also served as a challenge to French medical and health authorities and their dealing with autistic men, women and children, especially those severely affected, those who are outside the norms which bureaucracy tends to impose, everything regulated, everything seemingly safe all secured. The central characters are based on two actual caregivers who are seen in photos during the final credits.

They are played by Vincent Cassel and Reda Kateb. Vincent Cassel has played so many criminals over the decades, so many sinister-looking characters, that it may take many audiences off-guard to see him so genial, so humane, so full of humanitarian energy as caregiver, Bruno. Reda Kateb has appeared in quite a number of French dramas, playing here another sympathetic caregiver, Malik, one who takes risks as Bruno does but also has some order and discipline in his working with the autistic as well as with his staff, especially the volunteers.

Because, in fact, so many of the staff are volunteers, chosen by Bruno and Malik, taking them on to care with training on the spot, there is very often quite a risk. The film is full of wonderful examples of the work, the extraordinary challenge that most of us would not be equipped to handle in terms of emotions, skills, long-term patience. There is Joseph, a rather rotund young man who has a penchant for pulling emergency levers on the Paris Metro. When he gets a job in a factory, where he does well, he gets a crush on one of the workers, going beyond bounds, having to move out. There is Valentin, a reclusive boy, wearing a leather helmet, sitting alone, banging his head against a wall. One of Malik’s volunteers, Dylan, a young homeless man, begins to work with him, patiently staying with him, eventually, very eventually, achieving some success.

There are many pictures of doctors and nurses, many sympathetic, referring the autistic to Bruno and Malik and their care. There are many parents, some puzzled, some anxious, some desperate, and a portrait of Joseph’s mother (Helene Vincent)..

Bruno is full of energy, never stopping (well, some arranged dates but he is always on call and has to go), collaborating with Malik, but facing the challenge of the inspectors, finally and in desperation asking who would take the men and women if not them? The government? And treat them – how?

So, this is a film of special pleading, taking the audience into an unfamiliar world for most, asking for understanding and for empathy.

Peter Malone MSC is an Associate of the Australian Catholic Office for Film and Broadcasting.