deartraveller

My dear Erica,

What an amazing week we had! Thank you so much for coming to Virginia and for bringing along your new friends, they were all so amanzingly nice and had so much to tell and to teach us about this adventure we entered on.

I noticed you loved the beach and it was really hard for me to say goodbye to you, but the journey has to continue and I noticed I wasn't leaving you in bad company. ( Yes, I noticed that special friend of yours ).

On my way back from Virginia Beach, wich I'll deeply miss, I saw a French movie with Gabriel that he named as one of the most amazing movies of his life. I got so curious ( OK, I'll admit it, at first it was just because I wanted to know him better ), that before we choose where to go next we went to the movies to see it and The Intouchables automaticly became the movie of my life!

The film relates the development of the unlikely friendship between Philippe, a wealthy quadriplegic, and Driss, a young black and poor man from the ghettos. Philippe, who owns a luxurious Parisian mansion, and his assistant Magalie, are interviewing candidates to be his live-in carer. Driss, who lives in a bleak Parisian suburb, a candidate, has no ambitions to get hired. He is just there to get a signature showing he was interviewed and rejected in order to continue to receive his welfare benefits. 

The next day, Driss returns to Philippe's mansion and learns, to his surprise, that he is on a trial period for the live-in carer job. He learns the extent of Philippe's disability and then accompanies Philippe in every moment of his life, discovering with astonishment a completely different lifestyle. A friend of Philippe's reveals Driss's criminal record which includes six months in jail for robbery. Philippe states he does not care about Driss's past as long as he does his current job properly. Over time, Driss and Philippe become closer and gradually, Philippe is led by Driss to put some order in his private life, including being more strict with his adopted daughter Elisa, since his wife died without giving him any children, who behaves like a spoiled child with the staff. Driss discovers modern art, opera, art, and even learns how to paint.

I think you see how this goes from now on. Despite being so close, Philippe understands that Driss has to take care of his cousins and dismisses him, although his moral is very low on the following times has he's not abble of finding a suitable replacer. Driss becomes aware of this and takes Philippe to a small trip. They arrive at a restaurant with a great view of the ocean, but Driss suddenly leaves the table and says good luck to Philippe for his lunch date. Philippe does not understand, but a few seconds later Eleonore, a woman with whom he had established an epistolary relationship, just talking on the phone and by letter, arrives. Philippe looks outside and sees Driss through the window, smiling at him.

I was in need of a good laugh provided by good company and the movie was a relaxing breth of fresh air. The night I saw this story happening, became exactly what I needed!

At a certain point in our lives we think we are unbeatable, certain values fade away and the notion of having our feet well placed on earth slightly vanishes. The notion that some people have their feet way to buried on earth and others are floating through the clouds was given to me by this movie in a light, comic, and most of all, real way. It was an eye opening film, as it taught me how to rely on the most unexpected people and that sometimes help, love and friendship can come as a result of the most unexpected situations. 

Two worlds, two men and two tottaly different ways of facing life became one and then .. became untouchables.

What is your 'movie of a lifetime' ?

As I'm almost weping I'll say goodbye now. ( Gabriel is getting worried, he thinks I spend too much time on the computer ... how sweet!! ) Please write to me soon and tell me where are you heading next!

Missing you like crazy,

Sara.