Synopsis: Albert and Bruno are over-indebted. In their perpetual search for good plans, they find themselves in spite of themselves embedded with young environmental activists. More attracted by beer, free crisps and lodging than by the environmental cause, they will however gradually integrate the movement…
Feel Good by nature
If there is one film genre mastered by the duo, it is obviously the feel good movie. A difficult year is no exception to the rule. Intelligent, funny, instructive… the film is certainly good for the zygomatics as well as the synapses. A veritable dive into Action Rebellion-type movements, it is above all, like the duo's other films, a mirror of our society. A society where police violence, economic violence and ecological violence are both legion and daily. Beneath its Sunday night comedy tunes, the camera points to what most of us pretend we can't see anymore. Sometimes it's good to be reminded of the obvious!
The film achieves this with just the right tone. Neither moralizing nor falsely disillusioned, but with a slight step aside which makes all its charm. The green speech that could have turned into a caricature is gently mocked, but the message gets through and it's to the film's credit. Over-indebtedness is also the other subject of the film. But, it is probably to be seen more in the metaphorical sense, since after all, we are all indebted to our Mother Earth…
Everyone is beautiful…
The fact remains that if the film begins with a skilful editing punch of the presidential wishes of Pompidou in Holland which promises us all a difficult year (sic!), it remains a little too wise. Beneath its false airs of Italian comedy or a light remake of Adventure is Adventure (for the Pieds Nickelés side of two heroes), A Difficult Year remains a film which unfortunately never really takes sides, like his two anti-heroes. We would have liked him not to stand still and especially his characters to have a little more roughness. Ironically, the piece that punctuates (and rhythms?) the film is Stay, by David Bowie (concert version). Slip or not, the directors will only use the intro…
Few directors are still able to draw tears from us on a song by Brel
In his defense, A Difficult Year had a very difficult year itself, since the cast was turned upside down at the last minute. Alban Ivanov (who was to give the reply to Pio Marmaï) having abandoned the project due to burnout, was replaced at short notice by a Jonathan Cohen, himself borderline since he had barely left the production of Le Flambeau. If he is perfect in the role of Bruno, the stooge of Albert (Pio Marmaï), it was not what was originally planned. The roles were reversed and therefore counted on counter-employments from Pio and Alban. Solène (Noémie Merlant) was not to fall into the arms of one of the seducers of French cinema, but into those of an actor more accustomed to playing the losers. No surprise therefore, it is expected and fatally unfortunate. Taking a risk would certainly have given the film a little more roughness and above all more breath. top of many hexagonal achievements. Let's not sulk our pleasure, few directors are still able to pull tears from us on a song by Brel (La valse à mille temps) or to show us the beauty of confinement. Just for that, you shouldn't be picky…
