Just Like Brothers

Bittersweet is the overall tenor of this film, which recently played at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts' Annual French Film Festival.Both charming and moving,it focuses on the 3 very different best friends of a lovely vibrant young woman,Charlie, after she succumbs to cancer. Feeling awkward and lost at her funeral, the three take a spontaneous road trip to her remote summer cabin on distant Corsica, where she had planned to take them that summer. The 3 leads are from 3 generations and they think they have nothing in common.In an easy flow, the director moves between them, revealing them through their present actions and their past memories of Charlie.

And with their long journey's many detours,some chosen and some not,they end up realizing their commonality and bond, and in fact, that may be Charlie's biggest gift to them. Because of the excellent screenplay and acting, it is a very believable transition. I was particularly enchanted by the youngest of the three, Max, played by the newcomer,Pierre Niney.

I don't think i have seen another film that deals with a friend's death in this way. Unlike The Big Chill,which is really about the present and the friends gathered, Like Brothers focuses on Charlie and her friendship with each of them, individually and together. It makes sense that it was nominated for some Cesars, and i feel very fortunate to have seen it.