Nationale 7 (2000)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Jean-Pierre Sinapi

Writers:

Anne-Marie Catois (writer)
Jean-Pierre Sinapi (writer)

Release Date:

6 December 2000 (France)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot Keywords:

Physically Handicapped | Wheelchair | Physically Challenged | Physician | Prescription

Awards:

5 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Nadia Kaci	...	Julie
Olivier Gourmet	...	René
Lionel Abelanski	...	Roland
Chantal Neuwirth	...	Sandrine
Gérald Thomassin	...	Jean-Louis
Saïd Taghmaoui	...	Rabah
Nadine Marcovici	...	Florèle
Julien Boisselier	...	Jacques, the psychiatrist
Isabelle Mazin	...	Solange
Jean-Claude Frissung	...	Director
François Sinapi	...	Father Gilbert
Franck Desmaroux	...	François
Manuela Gourary	...	Prostitute 2
Gilia Pallas	...	Angry woman (as Gillia Palas)
Jacques Bondoux	...	Christian

Also Known As:

Uneasy Riders (Europe: English title)

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Finland:K-15 | France:U | Germany:12 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | Argentina:13

Company:

La Sept-Arte

An offbeat, emotionally authentic celebration of human community

This small budget film tackles the important issue of the sexual rights of physically handicapped people who live and are cared for in institutions. The focus is on the disabled inhabitants and their carers of one particular state-run home situated near the southern French autoroute Nationale 7. Through the inter-twining stories of both disabled and able-bodied people, exploring their relationships - sexual, romantic, professional, and as friends - and in particular through the quest of the irascible Rene, a physically disabled man (movingly played by Olivier Gourmet) to establish his basic human right to freely and fully enjoy his God-given sexuality - the audience comes to a deeper appreciation of a central issue of institutional disabled life seldom discussed, let alone portrayed on film. Director Sinapi handles this sensitive subject with candour, warmth and humour. There is just the right blend of hard-hitting drama with the comedy of everyday life in a close-knit community where love and friendship survives the inevitable tensions and crises which can occur in such an environment. The performances by both able-bodied and disabled actors are uniformly excellent, and one quickly comes to see all participants as the distinct personalities they are without primarily relating to them on the basis of their status in the care home. This is a genuine community of love and hope where carers and cared-for are acknowledged and depicted as equals in their common humanity. The film deals with people, beyond all categories. In case this all sounds heavy-going and preachy, Sinapi's film is at once challengingly abrasive, emotionally honest and irreverently funny, serious in intent but executed with a refreshingly light touch. The underlying celebratory tone might appear to diminish its engagement with some of the complex ethical and social issues involved, but this film's heartfelt exploration of the joy and pain experienced in a socially marginalised community has a genuine authenticity. Well worth seeking out.