record when you grow up
Director: Andréa Bescond, Eric Métayer | Script: Andréa Bescond, Eric Métayer | Cast: Vincent Macaigne (Yannick), Aïssa Maïga (Aude), Christian Sinniger (Yvon Leroux), Evelyne Istria (Gigi Leroux), Kristen Billon (Brieuc), others | Time to play: 100 minutes | Year: 2023
A nursing home is forced to share its dining room with a primary school group. Despite the heavy workload and budget constraints, caretaker Yannick manages to make the most of it with good humor and some humor. Much to the passionate caretaker’s regret, the arrival of the primary school students and their teacher Aude brings with it the necessary complications and discomfort. Yet this youthful presence brings the brewery to life, making for a warm, funny, but also heartbreaking story.
when you’re older He quickly manages to win the heart of the viewer by giving the elderly and children the same level of humor. For example, in one early scene, the class troublemaker is attacked by old men who throw bread balls at him. This whole scene also immediately exposes certain sides of the main characters. The caretaker Yannick is soon irritated and Miss Aude can still see the humor in it. With this playful opening and clever camerawork, the film immediately explains what it has in store.
The story is at its best with the interactions between the children and the elderly. The way they play together, sing and dance or tell each other stories is just touching. Still, the filmmakers aren’t afraid to exploit these heartwarming interactions without mercy. Apart from the sweet and funny messages about enjoying life, the difficulties of aging, and especially death, also play an important role. The stark contrast between the drama and cute comedy will leave you with a lump in your throat.
All these sweet events sometimes give the impression that the film is going nowhere. Major character developments take a long time, so the pace gets a bit bogged down in the middle. Humorous scenes between caregivers, old people and children keep it from getting boring.
The cinematography also adds a lot to the viewing experience. For example, there are several remote shots that give a good idea of what day-to-day life is like as a caregiver in a retirement home. Suggestive flashbacks provide insight into characters who otherwise don’t show their weaknesses. One of the old men is a retired specialist. Mysterious flashbacks reveal how this has affected his life and what consequences it has today.
The story has a clear message: life is often unfair, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be beautiful. when you’re older he conveys this by tactfully dealing with a fierce subject like death. Children and the elderly are not dismissed as stereotypes, but treated with the same complexity as adults. The moving interactions between complex characters ensure that the film strikes every emotional chord possible.