Nationale 7

Basically, "Nationale 7" was a TV film which was theatrically given new life several months after its first broadcasting on the French German channel Arte. A necessary resurrection to appreciate a canonical film on the prickly subject of people with motor disability.

Jean-Pierre Sinapi walks away with the honors and with grit of a story which could have at any time fallen in unhealthy voyeurism or crass slapstick comedy. His film never borders on these two formidable traps and conveys a communicative feel good vibe without neglecting a lucid look when necessary. Thus, the sequences when Julie and René go through a series of administrative, juridical procedures to enable Renée to have sex with the prostitute, the reactions of the manager and some administrative members ring thoroughly true. To explore this close-knit community of handicapped people with their desires and expectations, respect and warmth are his two best assets. These two positive points could also be applied to the prostitute and I personally dig the moment when she begins a conversation with Rabah (Saïd Thagmaoui) about his icon "Johnny" Hallyday whom she has seen twice in her lifetime in 1998 at the French Stadium.

It was also wise from Sinapi to have used Richard Cocciante's heartfelt song "Il Mio Refuggio" (precedently heard as a leitmotiv in Patrice Leconte's mind-boggling "Tandem", 1987). The title of this song is in many characters' mind. Most of them try to find a refugee to feel better with themselves. Either it is René (Olivier Gourmet) who dreams of a new sex life; Rabah who wants to change religion and to become a Christian. Julie who can't manage to make up her mind between two men who woo her: the maintenance person Roland (Lionel Abelanski) and the sly doctor.

One could even go as far as saying that in this home, the disabled people have the upper hand to have access to their wishes, desires which tightens their solidarity as one last scene which shows all of them defending one of their fellows. You have to see the manager feeling a little puzzled by this gathering.

Real people with motor disability mix with first-class actors who obviously agreed to partake in the adventure with energy and enthusiasm. This winning combination strengthened by Sinapi's respectful, effervescent cinematographic style amounts to a valuable lesson of vitality. Seen in this perspective, if you feel blue, "Nationale 7" is an efficient cure.

I saw this on BBC4 recently having previously never heard of it. I was surprised I hadn't as it is a brilliant, funny and rewarding film. The serious topic is treated with warmth and respect and I found the last scene especially touching.

Despite what seemed like a very crass ending, I did actually really enjoy this film. I would have liked to see the film deal more with some of the more harsh realities that people face however a very good job nevertheless. I would like to be able to use it as a training tool and wonder if anyone has any notion of how I may obtain a copy?

With unemployment high, Julie takes a job at a disabled persons home and is assigned to the difficult and abusive Rene as one of her group. Rene is rude and distances himself from everyone with his anger and turns of rage. Failing to stop his anger but winning his trust, Julie learns of the reason for Rene's anger – he has not had sex for many months and, with his appearance and disability is unlikely to ever be able to win over a woman again. Rene asks Julie to get him a prostitute to help him out.

If advertising, music videos, films and television has taught us anything then it is that sex and sexuality is the possession of the young, thin and beautiful. This is not to say that fat, ugly, stupid, old or disabled people don't have sex or aren't sexy, just that them doing it is not something that the mainstream media wants to have anything to do with! I'm not stating these things as fact but this is what we are taught by the images we get everyday – hence this film (also called 'Uneasy Riders') seemed a bit of a tough sell. And indeed it is and it is to its credit that it manages to slowly win you over while still challenging at the same time. The plot is simple but it is the characters and the script that wins the day; the disabled characters are treated with as much dignity as the able bodied staff and there is no judgment here. The narrative at times is unlikely but it works well and the ending's step back into the reality is an inventive and nice touch. The digital video feels a little cheap at times until you get used to it and the direction is a bit too amateur and rough for my own tastes (too close, too jerky etc) but it is covered by the strong material and isn't a major detraction.

The cast of mostly non-professionals do very well, although it is sometimes difficult to accept them as 'people'; I don't mean this as a dig but it is hard to shake off the image of the disabled that the mass media has given me (us) and take this film on fresh. Kaci is very attractive but also very human, she is sympathetic and frustrated by equal measure and she is not as simple a character as she could have been. Gourmet manages to make Rene difficult but do it without alienating the audience. His desire for sex is difficult to accept (again – what I am told everyday by the media) but he makes his Rene a real person and it really works well. The support cast are mostly non-professionals and they do well; not all of them are given as much to work with as Gourmet but they provide colour and life that also helps to challenge preconceptions.

Overall this is not an easy film to get into at first but it quickly wins you over with its cheerful view of humanity and warmth. The script and actors give all the characters a real sense of reality and dignity and it easily overcomes the views that we are fed by the media on a daily basis (what is and isn't normal). Not without flaws but well worth a look for what it does.