The Barbarian Invasions

Nearly 20 years ago, Canadian director Denys Arcand made The Decline Of The American Empire, a witty ensemble piece about a philandering group of bourgeois. It suggested that the decline of great empires leads to self-indulgent citizens.

Now, in this belated follow-up, the barbarian hordes have breached the frontiers. Decline's delightfully wicked bon vivant Rèmy (Rèmy Girard) is dying of cancer. His estranged son, Sèbastien (Stèphane Rousseau), arrives and begins spreading money around to ease his father's passing. He also calls together the gang, older but if anything even wittier, and they see Rèmy out as he deserves: with culture, delicacy, humour and fine wine. This is a better film than Decline, mostly because it's more profound. Arcand's exquisite dialogue may be hilarious (he can wring a joke out of any word, and most of the verbal games make it to the subtitles), but deals with serious issues.

Who are the barbarians? There are fanatics guiding planes on 9/11, deadly cells proliferating in Rèmy's body, comically thuggish trade unionists taking over the hospital, the son who believes a loaded wallet can solve any problem - even Rèmy's decadent friends are barbarians to worldly Sèbastien. As Rèmy worsens, the film grows reflective, seeming finally to conclude that where such differing ideals and perspectives exist, the only worthwhile goal must be tolerance.

The Barbarian Invasions (Les Invasions Barbares)
Cert: cert18