The Barbarian Invasions

The contradictory evaluation of this film is due to the theme of aging, dying, and balancing life, which is inherently distant for most FilmBooster users due to their age. Moreover, the genre in which Arcand operates, psychological drama lightened with a series of tragicomic moments, cannot be as much of a box-office hit as classic entertainment genres. Some objections to the film are indeed valid. It does feel like a TV film and is based on dialogue, which means that the visual aspect falls behind. Not to mention that, given the intellectual focus of most characters, some of their debates slide into unproductive and disconnected conversations, which the director and screenwriter try to use as one of the satirical jabs. Additionally, some of the motifs used, such as searching for heroin at a police station, are really "out of place" and seem to have come from another film from the crazy comedy genre. On the other hand, if one accepts the subject matter and the given situation, the film is truly an impressive look at a dying person and their loved ones. In a way, The Barbarian Invasions can be used as a metaphor for the entire contemporary Western world, where ideas of continuous progress and advancement, solving fundamental societal problems through ideologies, etc., are dying. The professor, as a staunch leftist, who devoted a significant part of his life to promoting various "isms," at the end of his journey is confronted with the desperate condition of state hospitals full of bureaucracy, incompetence, and corruption. His son has to bribe his students to come and visit their teacher, thus providing him with the illusion of interest. The man, who prides himself on his knowledge of culture and literature, must bitterly witness the fact that his offspring, who has not read a single book in his life and spends time playing video games, earns more in a few days than he does in a whole year. Essentially, it is an interesting film with decent performances, and if one overlooks the aforementioned flaws, they will be rewarded with a decent experience. Overall impression: 75%. (14/05/2011)