The Five of Us – Canada, 2004
Had I been reviewing films in 2004, I have no doubt that I
would have ranked Ghyslaine Cote’s The
Five of Us as one of my favorite films of the year. It has that rare near
perfect combination of story, acting, and pacing, and it consistently avoids
the clichéd path that films of its kind so often go down. At one point I
expected it to dwell on a particularly horrific moment in time, to show in
detail the panic and the terror that people experienced and possibly to linger
in the forest while police stealthily moved in. Instead, the film fast forwards
fifteen years and very subtly begins its somber look at the lasting impact of
violence and murder. It is in every way a masterstroke.
The film begins with a spinning aerial view of an area of
the countryside so compact with autumn-colored trees that it is impossible to see
anything near the ground. The scene is simultaneously beautiful, dizzying, and
unsettling, for anything could be happening on the ground below. Our view from
the sky soon focuses on a moving car. We hear singing and the jovial sounds of
people obviously heading somewhere fun and exciting, and later we see five
young girls having the time of their lives. One jumps into a crystal clear
lake, and in the first of the film’s excellent cuts, the same girl - now
seventeen years old - emerges from the water. It is clear that this has been
these girls’ “spot” for much of their young lives, much as secret caves, tree
houses, and green parks have been other young people’s spots. These are the
places of special memories, of first loves, deep conversations, and private
reflections. Of course, they can also be places of break-ups, disappointments,
and tears. The wonderful lake house in The
Five of Us will eventually be a remainder of both good times and terrible
loss.
The first part of the film serves as a reminder of the
naïve-like optimism that teenagers often look at the world through. To these
five young ladies, anything is possible. Claudie (Brigette Lafleur) dreams of becoming
a world famous chef, Sophie (Naomie Yelle) a chart-topping singer, and Isa (Ingrid
Falaise) a supermodel. Along with their friends, Manon (Jacinthe Lague) and
Anne (Julie Deslauriers), they believe that they will succeed if they are just
willing to work hard enough for their dreams. Their conversations will sound familiar
to many of us. They talk openly and humorously about their sexual experiences,
or lack thereof, they experiment with drugs and alcohol, and they are bound by
friendships that seem indissoluble. Watching Isa and Sophie talk with such optimism
about their hopes and dreams, I was reminded of my own conversations at that
age. I was every bit as sure of my own success as they are of theirs.
Something terrible happens that weekend that changes their
lives forever. The beginning of the film hints at it, Manon survives it, and the
rest of the film reflects on it – sometimes in the form of deep and meaningful
conversations, sometimes in facial expressions that reveal a degree of pain
that no one should ever have to deal with, and sometimes in shocking
flashbacks. It is the latter choice that gives me mixed feelings, for as
shocking and important as what we see in the flashbacks are, I can’t help
wondering how much more powerful it would have been to hear them described by an
actress as involving as Lague.
The film is a reminder that the wheels of justice often spin
faster than human beings heal. Fifteen years may be enough time for a criminal
to rehabilitate himself, yet trauma such as the kind that Manon experiences can
last a lifetime. The film wisely does not take sides on this issue. Instead, we
watch as the four survivors return to the place where their lives changed so
abruptly and reconnect. Their conversations reveal the range of emotions that
greet the decision to grant parole to someone convicted of such a violent crime.
Understandably, there are calls for revenge, questions about forgiveness, and emotional
outbursts brought on by survivor’s guilt. It is all powerful and realistic, and
the film’s resolution is as true to life as it could possibly be. The Five of Us is truly an unforgettable
experience. (on Blu-ray in Region A)
4 and a half stars
*The Five of Us is
in French with English subtitles.
*It
was voted the most popular Canadian film at the Montreal World Film Festival in
2004.
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