Due fuggitivi e mezzo

When Gérard Depardieu gets released from prison, he vows to go straight. It's a very unlucky break for him when that same day, he's an innocent bystander in a bank robbery. The robber, Pierre Richard, takes a hostage so he can flee the bank, and by sheer coincidence, he takes Gérard. The police think Gérard has taken Pierre hostage, since he's the known criminal, and Gérard's dreams of living the straight-and-narrow go up in flames.

While most of the movie is a very cute comedy, with two different men thrown together and eventually finding common ground and friendship, there's another layer of the movie that's sweet and touching. Pierre has a young daughter, Anaïs Bret, who hasn't spoken since her mother died, and while his actions aren't according to the law, it's easy to see why he does them. She's such a doll, and her loyalty and innocence soften both the leads. There's an adorable scene where Gérard collapses from pain and blood loss after running from the police on an injured leg. He's exposed and unconscious, and little Anaïs runs after him, then sits beside him as a watchdog to make sure no one else hurts him. She stays with him all night, eventually curling up beside him and falling asleep in his arms. After that scene, the audience will wholeheartedly approve of anything the two "fugitives" do because they know they're doing it for her.

I love this movie, because both Gérard and Pierre put their hearts on their sleeves in front of the camera. Tension relies on emotion, and there's plenty of both in this movie. If this sounds good to you but you don't think you can handle the subtitles, there was an American remake in 1989 with Nick Nolte and Martin Short. I loved this version, since Gérard Depardieu is one of my favorite celebrity boyfriends. With his feathery blond hair, his vulnerable eyes, and his sensitive smile, I don't think I've ever seen him looking more gorgeous. I'll probably have to watch the movie again, since I was too busy drooling over him to read every single subtitle.