A difficult year on TF1: a stimulating social comedy (review)

The Toledano-Nakache duo signs an Italian-style comedy dedicated to contemporary collective anxieties and relies on a flamboyant cast.

While their new comedy, Juste une illusion, is a hit at the cinema, TF1 is taking the opportunity to broadcast A Difficult Year for the first time, the previous film by the famous director duo. This film by Jonathan Cohen, Pio Marmaï and Noémie Merlant did not enjoy the usual success of Toledano-Nakache, but Première recommends it. Our review:

Eric Toledano and Olivier Nakache had not released a film since Hors norms in 2019 and had devoted themselves fully to the In therapy series. Returning to the cinema with A difficult yearthey extend their portrait of the post-confinement world and assume a tone of social satire. The story of two over-indebted men who cross paths with environmental activists fighting against the climate crisis.

Between these two accustomed to overconsumption and this movement which advocates degrowth, the contact is not obvious but the presence in the group of a woman named Cactus, a sensitive and committed young woman, will facilitate the interest of the two braggarts in the environmentalist cause. To illustrate the meeting between contradictory ideologies, the filmmakers use an energetic production which immediately calls on the voice of Jacques Brel singing La Valse à mille temps, a way of inviting us to a joyous dance of opposites.

As in the great Italian comedies, the characters are moving through their flaws: as a father broken by grief, Jonathan Cohen is amazing; Pio Marmaï impresses with its mix of dynamism and fragility; And Noémie Merlantas an activist who has cut herself off from her desires, turns out to be very touching. Although the film suffers here and there from a few flaws in its political portrayal as in its sentimental intrigue, the Toledano-Nakache duo ensures the essential: making comedy a stimulating contemporary observation post which calls for awareness. And as such, it truly occupies a special place in French cinema.

A difficult year. Of Éric Toledano and Olivier Nakache With Pio Marmaï, Noémie Merlant, Jonathan Cohen… Duration 1h59.