They brought a breath of fresh air to the rise of the steps in Cannes and have already won over the whole of France. The actors of the film A little something extra, most of whom are severely disabled, are on their way to creating one of the biggest cinematic successes of the decade. On display for less than a month in France, the feature film has to date attracted 4.5 million spectators, ahead of Dune, part twoas blockbuster of the year.
Is the enthusiasm deserved? Even if the feature film, directed by the actor Artus, who is behind the camera for the first time, does not avoid certain clichés, tears and excess didacticism, it also offers real moments of magic, vulnerability and gentleness including We really need it right now.
Father and son on screen, Clovis Cornillac and Artus play two criminals who, after robbing a jewelry store, take refuge on a bus leaving for a summer camp. On board ? A group of young people with mental disabilities and a trio of specialized educators on their way to the countryside. To go unnoticed, Paulo, the son, pretends to be a boarder, while his father plays the role of his educator.
This absurd premise will be the starting point for a transformative stay in nature which will have – we guess – a much greater impact on the two thugs than on those who, with their “little extra thing”, cultivate a happiness and admirable sincerity.
The most successful aspects of the film lie first in its cast, primarily made up of actors with real-life disabilities, who play themselves. By celebrating and capitalizing on what makes each of them unique, Artus eliminates any form of narrative discrimination by offering the same depth to all of its performers.
Thus, he never seeks to silence or even soften the comic potential of an obsession – here Dalida, there costumes of all kinds –, of a nervous tic, of a linguistic or gestural impulse or of a complicated relationship. to the body and physical proximity, and instead chooses to use this truth as a narrative engine and emotional gold mine. Fortunately, because several of the jokes fall flat.
Therefore, when Artus claims to have a disability, jumping headlong into the trap of caricature, only special educators are fooled enough. The main parties involved immediately see the ridiculousness of the subterfuge, which does not prevent them from playing the game. A real friendship will then develop between them, in which the learning will not always go in the expected direction.
More than a benevolent look, it is an honest look that the filmmaker takes on his cast. However, he does not hesitate to underline – through the reactions of his non-disabled characters – the prejudices, both negative and sentimental, that his band of happy and endearing people arouses in the viewer.
Everything unfortunately deteriorates towards the end, which shamelessly borrows from all the clichés of melodrama – from fluffy romances to incredible redemptions, including the obligatory box of tissues. It was not necessary to insist so much to understand that taking a step aside to see the world from the point of view of someone different is invaluable. A touching film that ends on a cliffhanger.