He saw others. He receives a literary prize in the midst of raging feminists. In addition, there is a mistake regarding the person: the real winner is a homonym. Jean-Michel Bouchard attends the ceremony with an amused and furious look. This septuagenarian in a well-cut three-piece suit observes his contemporaries with a solid dose of philosophy. Vaguely a writer, he lives in a luxurious retirement home surrounded by a vast park. His country has changed. Soon he no longer recognizes him. Maybe he needs new glasses.
The pète-sec director leads her troops with the baton. She looks tenderly at her favorite resident. He doesn’t suspect anything: every week, a tall blonde girl visits him. This causes waves of jealousy. In a living room, a resident plays classical pieces on the piano.
One fine morning, a group of demonstrators set up on the lawn of the establishment. This is to protest against the mural in the hall representing Jacques Cartier in regalia and half-naked natives. This scandal cannot continue. “First Nations” deserve respect. No Native Americans among the protesters who brandish banners, which does not bother them at all. They are disguised as Redskins, hammering out tunes on drums that they believe are faithful to the tribes annexed by the odious colonialists. The matter goes back to the government. The minister in charge gives up. Workers covered the incriminated work with white paint.
Bouchard sighs heavily. Her next-door neighbor no longer wants to be called Stéphanie. Now say Stef. The hero ironically trains himself to express himself in non-gendered language (try it: the result is delicious). The offended are becoming more and more numerous. Be careful where you put your feet. Words are double-edged. The poor director is overwhelmed by events. His position is at stake. What’s more, his daughter hasn’t spoken to him for years.
At 82, Denys Arcand is not as old as his arteries. But with Testament, he has a tough tooth. The times sadden him. He chooses to make fun of it. The program is endless. It’s the world upside down. Lack of culture competes with stupidity, which is often accompanied by arrogance. Rémy Girard, the director’s favorite actor, carries his massive and good-natured figure into this universe where Serbian libraries reprimand their faithful with devastating humour. Hell adorns itself with well-meaning slogans. A certain tenderness is not excluded when it comes to describing the morals of seniors whose only distraction is video games. “At 3000, I’m a superhero!” says a white-haired man who has been working on his controller for five hours. This current of healthy air does a lot of good. Against political correctness, the Arcand method is the best. This is happening in Quebec, that is to say everywhere. We are waiting for the equivalent at home. It is not forbidden to dream.
“Will”. Comedy by Denys Arcand. With Rémy Girard, Sophie Lorain and Marie-Mai. Duration: 1h55.
Le Figaro’s opinion: 3.5/4.