Barbarian Invasions (Les Invasions Barbare)

Reviewed by Cathy Edsey Collins

for Reel Movie Critic

HHH ½

Cast

Remy Girard Remy

Stephane Rousseau Sebastien

Dorothie Berryman Louise

Louise Portal Diane

Marie-Josie Croze Nathalie

Written and Directed by Denys Arcand. A Canadian comedy/drama. In French with English subtitles. Running time: 99 minutes. Not rated

Life is short

Canada's directing crown jewel, Denys Arcand, wowed audiences and critics in 1986 with his "Decline of the American Empire," a cerebral film that relied primarily on the intellectual conversations of its players. Like "The Big Chill" and even "My Dinner With Andre," the film raked the sexual mores of men and men over the coals for an intriguingly different type of movie-going experience that elevated the lively art of conversation.

Seventeen years later, writer/director Arcand revisits these same characters as they gather to say goodbye to their dying friend Remy, the outspoken political science college professor and unbridled lothario in the stimulating "Barbarian Invasions." Initially some of these longtime chums have excuses for putting off these sad farewells, but

Remy's estranged son Sebastien - a successful financier with dollars to spare - persuades them to make the time. Like a fairy godmother, Sebastien greases a few palms and gets his father moved to revamped private headquarters. He even tracks down a heroin source (Marie-Josie Croze in an award-winning performance), insuring that his father is not in pain. But Sebastien does these things at the request of his mother, not out of any love for his father. Though when his father finally admits his pride in his son, Sebastien softens, remaining on watch until his father dies.

"Barbarian Invasions" manages to insert digs about the Catholic Church, Canada's overwhelmed health care system, labor unions and crime. A disconcerting replay of 9/11 seems to be the connection to the film's title. Ultimately, however, "Barbarian Invasions" is not about social issues but about the unfinished business of life and the regret that accompanies the realization that life is, indeed, incredibly short. Remy's daughter, in a tearful video email goodbye, aboard a sailboat on the other side of the world, credits her father with teaching her "a lust for life."

Until the end Remy illustrates just that. He smiles seductively when the nurse offers him a rubdown. He comments that he loves women, he has "never tired of them." His last words, in fact, are about "jumping the nurse." Even in the throws of cancer, they are still hypnotized by his charm. Both mistresses and his ex-wife are with him at the end, ex-wife Louise calling him "the man of my life."

This film's depiction of death may be laughably unrealistic, and the civility between mistresses and ex-wife hard to fathom, but its performances are top notch and its sobering message delivered with panache and humor. "Grab all the gusto" Arcand reiterates through the dying Remy, in this funny, sensitive, endlessly discussible film. Seek this one out-it is worth the hunt.