The Big Picture Movie Review
Although poignant and reflective the 2010 French film The Big Picture, originally titled L'homme qui voulait vivre sa vie - The man who wanted to live his life, is a psychological thriller full of subtle psychology and empty of thrills. Blink once and you may miss the entire point of this introspective piece.
The Big Picture stars French actor Romain Duris as Paul Exben, a successful Parisian lawyer with two perfect children, house and wife. The seemingly perfect life. However, it’s more nuanced than that. Director/writer Eric Lartigau (A Ticket to Space, La Famille Bélier) makes it complicated, as life is. Things are not so black and white. From the first interaction between Paul and his wife Sarah, played by Marina Foïs, it’s clear he’s completely oblivious to her unhappiness. This is the flaw he must overcome - his narcissism.
Later, upon the news of his partner’s incurable and fatal diagnosis, Paul receives a call from Sarah and the two meet at a cafe where Sarah tries to communicate her troubles. Distracted from the morning’s news, Paul brushes off her struggles with her writing career and the two fight. Sarah feels trapped by the house, children and feels rejected both from her husband and the writing community. They agree to talk that night. However, that talk never happens and after only a few sips of wine Paul and Sarah have sex - Paul is completely oblivious to the fact that Sarah is detached from the entire experience, going through the motions - playing the role of the good and complacent wife.
After a few distant and tense interactions with his wife Paul eventually concludes that Sarah is having an affair. Instead of confronting her, or talking about their marital issues he gets drunk at a dinner party and teases her about writing, humiliating her in front of all their friends. This is the last straw for Sarah and she asks for a divorce. Again, Paul makes the wrong move. He confronts her lover, an arrogant trust fund bohemian, trying to be a photographer, Grégoire Kremer played by Eric Ruf. This is particularly sore for Paul as he himself gave up his dream of being a photographer to become a lawyer and live, ‘the good life’ - a stable life. As Kremer insults him, encouraging a fight, Paul finally snaps, breaking a bottle over Kremer’s head. After Kremer throws Paul and himself to the ground, he lands on some broken bottle and dies from the bloody wound in his neck.
Knowing the only way to avoid arrest and a public scandal, Paul runs from responsibility once again. He disposes of the body, settles things with his firm, fakes his own death, assumes Kremer’s identity, and moves to what appears to be a small village in Montenegro. He spends one last afternoon with his children before driving away, watching a confused and concerned Sarah in the rearview window.
In hiding is where Paul’s self-exploration begins. For most of the film he’s not a particularly likeable character and it isn’t until the end when he helps a stranger does he understand what life is all about. He goes from a successful career, stability, picture perfect family, fame as a photographer, nomad bohemian and it isn’t until he does his first truly selfless act that he finds peace and happiness. He finally sees the big picture.
