A One Mann’s Movies review of “Driving Madeleine” (2023).
Original title: Une belle course
“Driving Madeleine” took me by surprise. When I started watching it, I thought “Oh, another gentle little movie that might bring in the ‘silver dollar’ audience”. Which is something I love seeing: the joy of going into a cinema screening in the middle of a weekday afternoon and, instead of finding it empty, finding it nicely full of similarly grey-haired oldies looking to watch a “nice, age-appropriate film”. Recent examples this year (of varying quality) have been “The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry“, “The Duke“, “The Phantom of the Open“; “Allelujah” and “Book Club 2: The Next Chapter“. And “Driving Madeleine” deserves to pull in that same type of audience, since it is genuinely delightful. But many older folks have had the mileage to experience all sorts of traumatic events along the way. So they would be well-advised to check my “Triggers” warning below the trailer. (Warning that this is a bit spoilery). Since this one has a few more teeth than the norm.
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
Plot Summary:
Charles (Dany Boon) is a Paris taxicab driver. He is in debt and depressed with his life. His dispatcher, aware of his situation, lines him up a simple but lucrative fare. He has to drive the elderly Madeleine Keller (Line Renaud) from her old home on one side of Paris to a new life on the other side of the city. But it is a journey that Charles will never forget as Madeleine narrates her life-story, using Paris locations along the way as an aide memoire.
Certification:
UK: 15; US: NR. (From the BBFC web site: “Sexual violence, domestic abuse, brief strong violence, language”).
Talent:
Starring: Dany Boon, Line Renaud, Alice Isaaz, Jérémie Laheurte.
Directed by: Christian Carion.
Written by: Cyril Gely & Christian Carion.
Twitter Handle: #DrivingMadeleine.
Running Time: 1h 31m.
The wonderful Line Renaud at 95 playing the thoughtful and mischievous Madeleine. (Source: Parkland Entertainment).
“Driving Madeleine” Review:
Positives:
- There is a delightful relationship developed between Charles and Madeleine. Charles starts off with lots of eye-rolling as the old lady rabbits on about her life. But then that turns to respect and indeed shock as she uncovers more about her background. All of this is beautifully portrayed by Dany Boon and Line Renaud. Ms Renaud looks INCREDIBLE for her age. Unlike Pierce Brosnan in “The Last Rifleman“, she doesn’t have to ‘age it up’ for the role: quite the contrary… she was born in 1928 so was 94 years old when the film was made last year. An incredible lady!
- The script is full of homespun words of wisdom: “Each moment of anger ages you” says Madeleine. “Each smile makes you younger”.
- The flashback scenes are nicely done, and feature a cracking performance from Alice Isaaz as the younger Madeleine.
- Music is used to wonderful effect in the film. As well as a memorable original soundtrack by Philippe Rombi we have some classic songs: Etta James singing “At Last” (which makes for a memorable scene in a theatre); Dinah Washington singing “This Bitter Earth” (“Today you’re young; Too soon you’re old” – so true!); and Ella Fitzgerald singing “On the Sunny Side of the Street”. Teriffic stuff.
Negatives:
- I kind of guessed where the story might go about half way in and thought “no, they couldn’t be so twee and predictable”. But they could. And they were! (This in no way stopped some cinema dust from getting in my eye).
- Some aspects of Madeleine’s story might be distressing for some viewers (see my trigger warnings below).
Alice Isaaz, luminous as the younger Madeleine in one of many flashbacks. (Source: Parkland Entertainment)
Summary Thoughts on “Driving Madeleine”
Bizarrely, this is my THIRD film in a month featuring a s 92-years old character (after “The Great Escaper” and “The Last Rifleman“) – – what are the odds!? But I really enjoyed this one. The story had some bumpy moments, as above, but as an overall feelgood offering I think older people in particular will definitely appreciate this one. Is it subtle in the way it milks your tear-ducts like some super-heavyweight Jersey cow, late to the parlour for milking? No, not at all. But we all like to get emotionally put through the wringer once in a while. don’t we?
It is just such a shame that the release is likely to get completely lost, given all the other major releases coming out this month. I saw this as a screener at home. But I typed my postcode into the film’s web site here and it came up with no showings near me (and only two in the whole of London): perhaps you might be more lucky*. Worth seeking out if you can.
(* Update: The production company, Parkland Pictures, provided me the following comment, so worth keeping your eyes open: “Driving Madeline is having a “full” 17 week Theatrical so yes, not lots of screens on it’s opening weekend but it’ll be shown across a wide number of Screens across the 17 weeks”)
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Trailer for “Driving Madeleine”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_ZLwuO2eg8 . (French with English subtitles)
Triggers
The film, while reviewing Madeleine’s turbulent life, covers some difficult material. This includes marital abuse, violence against a child, marital rape and a novel form of violent emasculation that certainly made this reviewer wince. Those delicate about such matters might want to give this one a miss.
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