Der Löwe

Surely the best film directed by Claude Lelouch after "L'aventure c'est l'aventure". The Jacques Brel's life inspiration is really present. Richard Anconina and Jean-Paul Belmondo played a really amazing duo and are really great in the psychological discovery of the two characters they are playing.

One of the greatest stories of love and friendship and loneliness I have ever seen. Ever. The feel-good, cry a little, learn a lot movie. Outstanding photography, great dialogue, and so much heart. Someone said that Lelouch is forever making the same movie over and over again. Good! I don't care if I don't see another one.

And what do you know -- a movie like this, a story of a super-successful, super-lovable, super-lonely man who decides to leave it all behind and lives vicariously through a poor young protege he crosses his paths with -- this story did not make it to the American screen and video?! I can hardly believe this. Someone give me the name of a person who decided to pass on this movie. Someone tell me how it is possible to release "Les Miserables" by Claude Lelouch starring Jean-Paul Belmondo and skip on an equally powerful, if not more so, "Itineraire..." which was made by the same two masters 7 years earlier?

Anyone who has seen "Les Miserables", call your Senator and demand that this movie be released in the United States of A.

Any foreign movie distributor who is reading this, grab this movie and you will have hit a mother lode.

The Claude Lelouch's movie is a pretty good moment of cinema. One of the most touching films about family and loneliness, and surely the best interpretation of French actor Jean-Paul Belmondo.

Itinéraire d'un enfant gâté is the unusual fate of a man, Sam Lion (Belmondo), who has succeeded in life too quickly. But money doesn't make happiness: his loves annoy him, his children are complicated, his job is a burden. He decides to leave, pretending to be dead and leaving behind a loving family. Despite his apparent selfishness, we become attached to him and identify with him. In fact, everyone wants to live their life (or at least perceive themselves) as a great adventurer, just like him. This film makes us realise that it is possible to fulfil our wildest dreams and take our destiny in hand.

In close contact with nature, the missing man regains a taste for the true values of life, even if we quickly understand that Sam Lion still likes to control everything (his destiny and his loved ones, but also nature and the animals), which prevents him from completely cutting the ties with his former life. Even though he is presumed dead, Sam Lion finds a way to regain control of his business through a former employee Albert (Anconina) who recognises Sam Lion by pure chance in the middle of Africa. Sam Lion decides to train Albert in his image until they become one of the most beautiful and touching duos in the history of cinema. Colored with truth and humour, there are wonderful scenes between Belmondo (pretentious but touching) teaching life to his « pantin » Albert (naive and clumsy). Everything separates them but friendship eventually binds them together and in the end the two will learn a lot from each other.

The talent of Belmondo and Anconina, as well as the incredible soundtrack, further embellish this beautiful story. The non linear narrative of the movie allows us to go from laughing to crying very quickly, and that's the beauty of the film. Finally, the shots are breathtaking, especially the scenes with the zooms on Belmondo's charismatic face and confident look. Alternating flashbacks of Sam Lion's sailboat floating on the choppy waves with static shots of the actors' faces, we understand that while the waves sweep away the past, determination allows each of us to set sail and decide on our own itinerary.

Sam Lion (Jean Paul Belmondo) discovers he needs to take some time off as everybody around him relies to much on him and stages his own death. When he discovers those he loved ans still loves are in need, he gets Albert Duvivier (Richard Anconina) to help them. In search of his own past, of his own desires, this fabulous film by Claude Lelouch is a man's quest for himself at a ripe age.

Built like all Lelouch films, the film's beginning with constant flashbacks may be puzzling, especially scenes where Paul Belmondo (who looks a huge lot like his father) is playing a young Sam Lion while Sam Lion stands in the same room - a flashback sequence which takes a second to grasp.

One of Lelouch's most elaborate works, L'itineraire d'un infant gate is a must-see tale of self fulfilment.