Hors norms (2019)

Directed by: Olivier Nakache, Eric Toledano | 114 minutes | drama, comedy | Actors: Vincent Cassel, Reda Kateb, Hélène Vincent, Bryan Mialoundama, Alban Ivanov, Benjamin Lesieur, Marco Locatelli, Catherine Mouchet, Frédéric Pierrot, Suliane Brahim, Lyna Khoudri, Aloïse Sauvage, Djibril Yoni, Ahmed Abdel Laoui

Hors normes begins in style, with Emilie running in a busy Parisian street, an autistic girl in a panic. She is put in a van by two men. Moments later, one of them, the somewhat rude rescuer Bruno (Cassel), is summoned to accompany Joseph (Lesieur) home, who has pulled the emergency brake in the metro. The message is clear: life in the big city is not an easy task for people with a mental disability, least of all because of the misunderstanding of passers-by, authorities and bureaucrats who are cutting corners.

You would them too, people who hit and bite in public, like cornered animals. Our highly developed society cannot tolerate that. Autism is no excuse, the 21st century knows no patience, although Joseph is a charming man, well interpreted. Only a few well-meaning people really take care of the screaming, the beating, and the dumb. It is not feel good, but it is optimistic to continue in a domain that is not often shown in dramatic form. The Jewish Bruno and his sympathetic buddy Malik (Kateb) are also such a beautiful reflection of the multicultural society.

‘Hors normes’ is a sincere plea for the recognition of autism in French society. The makers do their best to evoke understanding, although we Dutch people devoid of decorum are a few steps further when it comes to these kinds of things, and the film is a bit too long. Cassel is always worthy of admiration, in experience and presence, and advocates the fate of his clients with love and patience. The weakness of the chosen approach is the fact that those clients remain flat characters; taking that one step further is the future of the emancipation process, though less attractive than a rough husk with a white kernel that makes beautiful women walk for work.