The Intouchables is a French comedy-drama film produced in 2011. It is based on the true story of Philippe Pozzo di Borgo and his caregiver Abdel Sellou who is French-Algerian. The plot is about the friendship that evolved between an employer and employee. Driss, who acts as Abdel Sellou in the film, enrolled for the position without having any ambitions since all he wanted was the signature confirming he had interviewed for a job and failed so that he could continue to get his welfare checks from the government.
Driss was successful and got the job. However, Phillipe’s friend had a concern that Driss had a criminal record since he had been in jail for robbery although Phillipe dismissed the concerns on the basis that it was only Driss who had treated him without pity. Thus, a strong friendship was formed between Phillipe and Driss. Phillipe trusted Driss to an extent that he told him about the accident that led to his disability as well as the fact that he did not have children of his own since his wife passed away before she could bear a child and that Elisa, his daughter, was adopted.
Driss on his part helped Phillipe by advising him to be strict on her daughter. On the other hand, Driss is introduced to modern art, the opera and even takes up painting.
At some point in the film, Driss has to be relieved of his duties so as to help his cousin Adama, who has got into trouble with the police. The absence of Driss leaves Phillipe in a sad state that he stops taking care of himself. Yvonne, his assistant, gets concerned and calls Driss who comes back and helps Phillipe get on a date with Eleonare, who he had previously stood up.
Most movie critics, especially the Americans say that the movie is racist and demeans the black French immigrant community because Driss is black and works as the caregiver for the affluent white French man. He has a criminal record and lives in the projects with other relatives on the wrong side of the law. More so, Driss did not want a job; he only wanted the unemployment checks which depict him as lazy.
The only political idea in the film is the broken state of unemployment welfare arrangement in France. The government spends a lot on the welfare of people who are able to take up different jobs. This is also a social problem since citizens as well as immigrants prefer not to take up jobs so that the government can continue paying for their upkeep.
However, I do not think the movie is racist since racism would mean that the boss looks down on his employee and treats him badly. Phillipe and Driss become genuine friends and Driss becomes the confidant of his boss. Furthermore, Driss was invited to the opera organized for his birthday even though he did not understand the music; Phillipe explained it to him since he considered Driss an equal human being and even took up his suggestions when it came to the date with Eleonare. More so, he even invited Driss to go with him on his private jet to a paragliding event. Thus, all this removes any doubts of racism in the movie.
Nevertheless, other critics have gone ahead to say that the role played by Driss in the movie is demeaning even if he was awarded for his role. The argument is that he was employed without a prior medical knowledge to be anyone’s caregiver since no one else could have accepted the job. There is no truth to this argument because the caregiving job had many applicants and Driss was not eager to get it as he was hoping to be dismissed so that he could continue getting free money from the government to take care of his welfare.
Driss loved his job and even when he left to stand by his family members, he came back when he got a call informing him of the sad state of Phillipe. Thus, if it was a demeaning job, Driss would have left earlier and not returned.
The various cultural backgrounds also helped them change each other’s lives for the better. The hard life in the projects where Driss lived made him recognize that Phillipe’s daughter was spoilt and that measures had to be taken so as to set her on a correct path while Phillipe’s affluent style rubbed on Driss and he took up painting. Hence, the fact that Driss came to love modern art, opera music and painting should dismiss any thoughts of racisms as these are not activities enjoyed and liked by the black community.
In conclusion, the film is a good story of how two people with different cultural backgrounds are brought together by circumstance and they end up forming a firm, genuine and healthy relationship that is based on trust and goes beyond racism and skin color.