Der Löwe

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.

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.

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.

This is not the best movie you might ever see, but it still is very refreshing. Of course, it has it's flaws, it has it's humbling moments and yet at the same time it's different from all the sh*t you're used to and is funny in a way only the french can give you this. You might recognize a little from the masterpiece Amelie, when you see the opening. I give it 7 out of 10, but still reccomend it to you if you're tired of the usual bore you can rent in the videostore.

"Itinéraire d'un enfant gâté" is another emotional movie starring Jean Paul Belmondo, The movie's plot surrounds over a rich and known man in France, with a enterprise. Seeking to dissappear and live freely away from reality.

At this point he fakes his own death and goes to libe in Africa, where he encounters a young man who works for him and decides he'll be his secsesor.

The movie has a nonlinear narrative in order to increase the viewer's interest in the film. Which works perfectly, the first time I've seen the movie I was really moved and attached to the way the exposition was presented.

Both Belmondo and Richard Anconina are perfect and acts so well together. Though I felt a little skeptical about the ending I assure you it is a lovely experience, not a massive French film hit, but a sensible one.