Un Homme Idéal
12/02/17 Filed in: Amazon Prime
This film scored highly on Amazon Prime and received 100%/79% scores from the critics/audience at Rotten Tomatoes, which isn't a bad recommendation.
Mathieu Vasseur dreams of being an author while he works shifting boxes in a dead end job. Soon after we're introduced to him, his latest manuscript is rejected by the publishers. Then a strange thing happens. While carrying out a house clearance of a deceased elderly man, who they are told has no family, he comes across a journal that was written during the Algerian conflict. Complete with sketches and photographs it's not only a wonderful record, but it's also a credible piece of writing. Mathieu decides to copy it and submit it as his own work. The result is astounding, the publisher telephoning to compliment him and seek a meeting. This he defers to give himself time to put together some credible research materials and acquaint himself more fully with the Algerian conflict.
The book is a phenomenal success, and at a reception organised in his honour one gets the impression that some people have doubts about his ability to write such a book at a young age, with limited life experience. But he carries it off, and what's more he meets a young woman, Alice Fursac, a literary expert who he first saw when he peeked in on a lecture at a college where he was collecting stuff as part of his job. Inevitably he and Alice become an item, and we jump forward to see them on the way to visit her parents, a wealthy couple who live in a mansion in the south of France. The credits include reference to La Seyne-sur-Mer in the Var Department of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.
Mathieu Vasseur dreams of being an author while he works shifting boxes in a dead end job. Soon after we're introduced to him, his latest manuscript is rejected by the publishers. Then a strange thing happens. While carrying out a house clearance of a deceased elderly man, who they are told has no family, he comes across a journal that was written during the Algerian conflict. Complete with sketches and photographs it's not only a wonderful record, but it's also a credible piece of writing. Mathieu decides to copy it and submit it as his own work. The result is astounding, the publisher telephoning to compliment him and seek a meeting. This he defers to give himself time to put together some credible research materials and acquaint himself more fully with the Algerian conflict.
The book is a phenomenal success, and at a reception organised in his honour one gets the impression that some people have doubts about his ability to write such a book at a young age, with limited life experience. But he carries it off, and what's more he meets a young woman, Alice Fursac, a literary expert who he first saw when he peeked in on a lecture at a college where he was collecting stuff as part of his job. Inevitably he and Alice become an item, and we jump forward to see them on the way to visit her parents, a wealthy couple who live in a mansion in the south of France. The credits include reference to La Seyne-sur-Mer in the Var Department of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.
But although Mathieu now has everything he desired things are starting to unravel. He has received a large advance towards his next book, but of course he is struggling to write anything comparable to 'his' initial successful novel. A former boyfriend of Alice, Stanislas (Stan) then turns up, and he soon shows signs of doubting Mathieu. Then disaster strikes as, while at a book signing, a man asks him to dedicate the book to the name of the owner of the journal. And then the blackmail begins, forcing Mathieu to steal some antique pistols from the house. Stan, already suspicious, finds the pistols and he and Mathieu fight, with tragic consequences. From this point things go from bad to worse, with Mathieu managing to cover his tracks for a while but inevitably his misdemeanours eventually catch up with him. His relationship with Alice deteriorates but is saved when he expresses his undying love for her, this episode unexpectedly giving him inspiration for another book.
It would be unfair to say any more about how this film ends, only that it is a bitter-sweet outcome that will make you feel sorry for Mathieu despite his many failings and the terrible things that he has done. If ever there was a story that reinforced the importance of telling the truth once a deceit has been uncovered, this is it.
It would be unfair to say any more about how this film ends, only that it is a bitter-sweet outcome that will make you feel sorry for Mathieu despite his many failings and the terrible things that he has done. If ever there was a story that reinforced the importance of telling the truth once a deceit has been uncovered, this is it.