“The Intouchables” (2011)

“The Intouchable” is a French film directed by Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledandin, contemporary French directors. The movie highlights the unlikely friendship between Philippe, a wealthy quadriplegic, and Driss, a Young Man from Parisian suburbs with a troubled past. Phillippe, who was paralyzed from the neck down as a result of a Paragliding accident, was seeking a caregiver and eventually decided to hire Driss, who did not have experience in caregiving but was able to impress Philippe with his unconventional approach and blunt honesty. This film tries to follow their journey as they develop a deep bond in helping each other to overcome personal challenges.

Moreover, Philippe is portrayed as a wealthy and successful man who has been confined in a wheelchair due to his disability. Despite their physical limitation, they can be depicted as intelligent, humorous, and cultured. However, Philippe is shown as lonely and needs more companionship and assistance in daily life (Myers,2022). However, those who are around him, including friends and staff, initially view him with a sense of pity and treat him as delicate, hence being able to avoid topics with disabilities. They see him primarily as someone who needs protection and care.

On the other hand, Driss is the main character who lives in disadvantaged suburbs, and Philippe has been hired as a caregiver. Driss has a very different background and is viewed as a misfit by those around him because of his unconventional behavior, which he does not have a formal education. Reflects societal stereotypes about the individual who comes from marginalized communities. However, Phillipe can see Driss is rough, recognizes his potential, and appreciates his honesty, humor, and authenticity. Through their friendship, Driss challenges the notion of preconceived about the disability and can bring a sense of vitality and joy in Philippe’s life.

Throughout the film, Philippe and Driss’s relationship evolves beyond being a caregiver–patient dynamic and ends up being a genuine friendship based on mutual respect and more understanding. Philippe can treat Driss as an equal by valuing his companionship and unique perspective on life (Nakache & Toledano,2011).In return, Driss is able to learn how to be able to Philippe, not just a disabled individual but a very complex human being with his fears, desires, and aspirations. Their bond transcends the barriers in society, demonstrating a power of empathy and acceptance.

“The Untouchable” can offer a heartwarming hence portrayal of friendship, disability, and the transformative power of connection between humans. It challenges stereotypes and prejudices that surround the disability while being able to celebrate the resilience and individual strength faced as physical challenges. Philippe and Driss’s story serves as a reminder of a friendship that is truthful, knowing the bond that everyone deserves to be seen and being able to be valued.

1. The social and cultural conditioning. In “The Untouchable,” social and cultural conditioning influences Philippe’s treatment, the quadriplegic main character. Societal norms and the attitude toward the disability can shape how Phillippe is treated and perceived by those around him. Philippe’s wealth and his background privilege can lead people to view him with pity and be able to treat him with a delicate approach, assuming that disability defines an entire identity (El Damanhoury,2013). The societal ideal perpetuates the whole idea of how individuals with disabilities are inherently dependent and that there is a need for care and protection.
2. Psychodynamic mechanisms play a role in treating Philippe in the movie. One relevant mechanism is the aspect of projection of people projecting their insecurities and fears onto Philippe, making assumptions about his disabilities, hence reflecting his inner struggles and limitations. For instance, Philippe’s staff and friends may have felt uncomfortable discussing specific topics because they projected their discomfort and fear of vulnerability upon him. This dynamic can reinforce Philippe’s perception as a recipient who is passive in care rather than an autonomous individual with his agency and desires.
3. Disability–related factors. The treatment of Philippe in “The Untouchable” is influenced by a disability or related factors.

• Functionality versus Organic of CID: Philippe’s quadriplegia is organic and is a result of physical injury. This organicity reinforces the perception of his disability, which is fixed to immutable, thus leading people to underestimate his capabilities and independence potential.
• Level of severity of CID: Philippe’s quadriplegia is severe as it’s a result of the inability to move his body from the neck down. This high level of severity can contribute to a perception of him as highly vulnerable and needing constant assistance.
• Degree of visibility of CID: Philippe is visible due to his use of a wheelchair and his limited mobility. This makes it possible for people to be able to overlook or ignore his disability, thus shaping how they can interact with him and be able to perceive his capabilities.
• Contagiousness versus no contagiousness of CID Philippe’s disability is noncontagious, but people may still exhibit avoidance or discomfort due to misconceptions about disabilities in general.
• Degree of predictability of CID: Philippe’s quadriplegia is predictable by knowing how long it affects and the potential of improvement that is certain. This unpredictability adds to the complexity of how people are perceived and can respond to disability.

1. Degree of predictability of the CID: Philippe’s quadriplegia is predictable in that the cause of the paragliding accident is known but has long-term effects and a potential for improvement that are certain. This unpredictability adds to the complexity of how people perceive and respond to various disabilities.

In “The Intouchables,” the character Philippe can demonstrate integrity throughout the entire film. According to page 20 of the textbook, integrity is maintaining a sense of wholeness and the strength to face overwhelming challenges in life adversities. Philippe embodies this quality as he can navigate life as a person with quadriplegia despite facing significant limitations. Philippe maintains a strong sense of dignity and refuses to allow disability to be able to define him. According to chapter 16 of the textbook, humor can be effective in coping strategies while dealing with the challenges of disability (Labouba,2015). Driss’s humor is a source of strength and resilience to face adversity.

References

Myers, S. (2022). Subplots. In The Protagonist’s Journey: An Introduction to Character-Driven Screenwriting and Storytelling (pp. 209–224). Cham: Springer International Publishing.

Nakache, O., & Toledano, É. (2011). The Intouchables [Motion picture]. France: The Weinstein Company.

Labouba, M. K. (2015). Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano, directors. Samba. (2014). 119minutes. French, with English subtitles. France. Quad & Ten Films and Gaumont. No price was reported. African Studies Review, 58(3), 286–287.

El Damanhoury, K. (2013, November). Product Placement In Movies As A Tool Of Transnational Advertising: Comparative Analysis Between French And American Movies. In KNOWLEDGE GLOBALIZATION CONFERENCE (p. 122).