I’M NOT HERE TO BE LOVED (JE NE SUIS PAS LA)

'I'm not here to be loved' is quite a shining example for the French' mode of meditative cinema - take up a theme/concept; elaborate it, delve deep into the establishment of the characters, poignantly bring out all the colours of the content more visually; and also being banal to any feel of cliche' in treatment. The two hour output that we get to see is a movie so fresh and enjoyable for every single moment of it.

Jean Claude, a 50 plus aged, Bailiff lawyer lives his life as solitarily and stalely as you could imagine. His daily professional routine is to knock at people's door and issuing them an eviction order/notice; to take the unpleasant wrath of their reactions. The sequence showing Jean laboriously climbing up the stairs so metaphorically captures the mental apathy of the protagonist also in such a physical way. Being single does not do any good to his monotonous and insipid life.

Life changes for Jean, when his health conditions require him to go for an exercise routine, he chooses Tango. Enters the delectable lightning out of the pale blue sky in the form of young Francoise, who is very soon getting married to a writer. The young woman develops a liking for Jean and reciprocated by Jean as well.

Then there are these wonderful sequences between Jean and Francoise, played so enchantingly by Patrick Chesnais, Anne Consigr. The movie on the whole is so fresh and an exquisite treat to watch. There are few cliches but well contrived ones that in fact contributes ebulliently to the charm of the movie.

Also there is this wry and to a little extent satiric humour that is hanging throughout. Every now and then, the script keeps springing up with some surprising moments and dialogues that is amusing and equally comical. The highlight are the sequences between Jean and his dad (top notch performance!).

This sequence just sums up the brilliance of the movie maker: He simply establishes the blossoming of love between Jean and Francoise while they watch a Tango performance. The camera cuts and alternately focusses between the tango dance, Jean and Francoise in closeup; to highlight that the other person is occupying their thoughts; finally culminating in Jean looking towards Francoise and she later feels his stare and looks at him. He doesn't turn away but they make eye contact for few seconds; then Jean turns away to watch the dance. This scene was exemplary and needs to be watched to feel the impact.

The climax wasn't a big twist yet the finish was a big surprise in terms of the moment when it finished and at such an unexpected juncture. Yet I felt this is the most spectacular finish we could have hoped for.

A worthy film with its honest approach to such a simple content as this one and yet coming out superlative. The real beauty is leaving out the aspects of sexuality and approaching the script with only the elements of melancholy, the chemistry between the actors and the all pervasive wry humour; which makes this movie work out on all levels.