Driving Madeleine

92 year-old Madeleine is leaving her suburban home to enter an aged-care facility on the other side of Paris. Charles, a taxi driver, knows it will be a good fare and comes to pick her up. She is in no hurry to reach her new home and asks him to go via various places which have been significant in her life. As the journey goes on, she shares some of the events of her incredible life with him, as well as wisdom that is useful for his rather jaded existence. There are some flashbacks which show the changing times, including some interesting courtroom scenes. Charles, the cabdriver, in turn becomes increasingly interested, kind and generous.

On this, Madeleine's last lap of Paris, naturally the city stars with its landmarks, restaurants and general life, including separated bikelanes... if they can do it there... And all of this is set to some great songs of the 1940s.

The famous actors are superb, of course, as Madeleine, Liné Renaud (who is 94 and whose film credits go back to the 1940s) and as the cabbie, French star, Dany Boon. The story is well-paced, nicely filmed and quite a touching little gem, somewhat reminiscent of the fine Australian taxi-ride drama, 'Damage' (2022).

When you've watched as many movies as I have you don't really think anything original can come along. But this was a total, refreshing surprise. Beautifully and perfectly cast and acted, what appeared would be a simple story became a complex but warm, difficult and open hearted encounter of two very different people - one a taxi driver and the other, his elderly, enchanting fare. And from this taxi ride a tale unfolds that is quite unexpected. It's a beautiful movie of encounters that reach deep into those spaces in the hearts and lives of people. This is truly a must watch for anyone wanting a meaningful movie experience.

A taxi ride across Paris can be one of life's most romantic times, and so it is in Driving Madeleine, a French souffle about a titular 92-year-old (Line Renaud, a famous French singer 95 years old) being taken by court order after a fall to a rest home, perhaps a final journey. Driver Charles (Dany Boon) doesn't realize it, but it is a transforming ride for him as well.

Madeleine, having no family but obvious means, requests along the way side trips to her past, both physical places along the way and memories that turn on love and heartbreak but have a salutary effect on both characters.

From stories of her first kiss during WWII, with Matt's kisses like "honey and oranges," to marriage abuse typical in the 1950's, Madeleine remains positive about being alive and loved. Charles, at 46 almost like a grandson to Madeleine, parries with financial woes but also hymns of love for his daughter. His tales of woe are shared by most working-class blokes.

The lovely background of a road-trip movie by cinematographer Pierre Cottereau, juxtaposed with some searing memories of Madeleine's younger self, comprise a delicate drama of life's ups and downs, from which our protagonists find a solace in living every day. It almost seems writer-director Christian Carion wishes us to smell those roses despite the disappointments that our fates appoint.

I am critical of sentimental movies like this that rely heavily on flash backs, yet here they work successfully to help guide us through her robust Odyssey. Although Driving Madeleine could seem a bon-bon movie trip, it is not.

It is a serio-comic trip with two fascinating characters reliving their lives and better because of it. At a difficult time of year to find good movies, you will have found one as well as a tear or two for this delicate protagonist and an end of life that will toll for all of us in one way or another.

As with most films premiering on the Gothenburg film festival, you can experience greatness.

As is the case with this masterpiece.

It is just very beautiful in terms of writing, shooting, cinematography and acting.

It is a very clever and well conveyed script that is sure to delight most film fans, and the film is very expertly and interestingly edited.

Overall, an incredible masterpiece that dares to experiment with the visual medium and with bold and interesting writing in ways that are commendable. It is truly a great drama for the ages that should be experienced by any lover of film. Give it a watch!

Yes, the story has a predictable ending. It doesn't take very long into the movie to have some idea of how it's going to end, but that's the point.

Why watch a movie that's pretty transparent about the ending? Because the characters are so well written, it's beautifully acted and before long you feel for the characters emotionally.

There were moments where I felt tense, my jaw clenched in anger because of how close to these characters I felt.

It was like I was drawn in to be a relative or a friend. I rode the knocks, felt the laughter and their sorry. They were perfectly relatable.

In a place where movies strive to grab your attention with explosions, or by trying to tick every box in a politically correct smorgasbord, this movie was stripped back to a couple of characters, their rapport and a story.

Truly moving. I'd happily see it again.