Itinerário de um Aventureiro

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.

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.

Jean-Paul Belmondo who left us this year, was indisputably one of France's best loved stars but only when playing a particular type of role. Time stops for no man and his popularity dimmed when making the transition from action hero to character actor.

He had worked previously with director Claude Lelouch on 'L'Homme qui me plait' and by all accounts did not take much pursuading to appear in this as he was strongly drawn to the character of Sam Lion, head of a business empire whose desire to 'escape' from his world causes him to fake his own death.

His grizzled, eccentric, understated performance is arguably his best and won him a much-deserved César which, typically, he declined to collect. His best scenes by far are those with the interesting Richard Anconina as Albert, a chance meeting with whom has far-reaching consequences for them both. The scene where Sam gives Al a few pointers on how to play the game of life is priceless. Anconina had previously made an impression in 'Tchao Pantin' for Claude Berri. Sam's daughter is sympathetically played by the director's wife Marie-Sophie L. Great to see one of the 'golden oldies' Daniel Gélin, in such good form as Albert's father.

The film itself is not without its weaknesses but these are outweighed by its strengths. It contains flashes of brilliance, touching moments, haunting images and a splendid score by the sine qua non of Lelouch films, Francis Lai.

As for Monsieur Belmondo best to leave the final words to Lelouch himself: "Cinema is dominated by stars you like from the very beginning."

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.