Dis-moi que je rêve

Luc and Jeanne breed animals on their country farm. Luc really wants to be a cosmonaut and explore outer space. The only space he enjoys is the space around his farm. Julien, his elder son, is not much help. He's learning how to kiss. He's kissing himself in the mirror and he tries it out on Julienne his favourite cow. And when he tries it out on his brother's girl friend, forcing himself upon her....well, there's trouble. Authorities say he should be locked up, but his mother insists that if there is anything wrong with him, it's the family's job to put things right.

One has to sympathize with the problems faced by parents who have mentally handicapped children. Some of the problems are clearly defined in this poignant comedy drama. There are many happy ...many sad moments. You'll find a lot of frustrating moments, too.

A turning point in this film is when Grandma reveals a terrible secret which has lain hidden for 20 years or so. Luc is not pleased ( "Trust you to stir the sh**t!") and there is more family squabbling at the dinner table.

When Julien gets a motorbike as a present, there are some hair-raising rides. I was expecting a terrible crash at every bend in the road. But Julien is hell-bent on following up Grandma's revelation.

The dilemma in which the family finds itself is not resolved in the end, but I have a feeling that somehow Julien's mad-cap life style brings members of the family closer together and with a better understanding about life and its frailties.

This show could have been perfect. I loved the beginning whereby each of the family member's relation with the problematic idiot-protagonist is explored. Obviously I have no love for the main character but I would love to have his family. The mother: understanding but too indulgent, sister:supportive and protective, brother: barely tolerant but actually even more protective and comforting, father: bewildered and torn and grandmother: opinionated but brave.

The story should have been played out to its more realistic conclusion of eventual institutionalisation due to all the potentially tragic problems the lead created. Instead, it introduced another skeleton in the family's closet to take the story to a sweet conclusion. Too Hollywood an influence, methinks; or perhaps I'm just a sucker for bittersweet endings instead.