Near perfect film making and characterisation

Rating: 10/10 (19 July 2018)

I have just finished watching this movie, and I am floored. I laughed throughout, was thoroughly drawn in to the characters and the wonderful relationship that blossomed between them through the course of the movie.
I am not a French speaker at all, yet this did not in any way stop me from my enjoyment of this film.
Full credit to François Cluzet for his incredible acting as a paraplegic - this is a very difficult thing to play convincingly when you still have full range of motion, yet I was so convinced by his acting I had to check whether he actually was disabled after the movie finished - literally no movement of anything from the neck down through the whole thing - it is up there with Daniel Day-Lewis in 'My Left Foot' and Eddie Redmayne in 'The Theory of Everything'.
Omar Sy stole the show for me - absolutely convincing portrayal of a man who is from the projects and with a deeper, more troubled past than he lets on, yet his comedic timing through subtle expression, and delivery of his dialogue is nothing short of masterful.
Very few films leave you feeling so wonderful, so much so that only two spring to mind - The Shawshank Redemption, and It's a Wonderful Life, and to be compared to two such films is very high praise.
The relationship of the two central characters is akin to that of Red and Andy Dufresne in Shawshank, but with more humour and a wonderful co-dependency which becomes clearer as the film progresses.
Supporting cast and characters are a joy to behold, with the roles of Yvonne and Magalie being expertly fleshed out by Anne Le Ny and Audrey Fleurot respectively.
This movie is all about heart and humour viewed through the lens of two people from vastly different ends of a cultural spectrum. The result is one of the very best films it has been my pleasure to watch. Bravo.