A life’s choice
by Karel Specty, Marc Gauchée, Catherine Belkhodja and Olivier Berlemont
feature film
Themes : Fiction / Comedy dramatic / Family / Love / Firm / Class struggle
Synopsis : “Just a fulfilled fantasy,” Caroline tells herself. “A fling with no future,” Pat tries to tell himself. They have simply been attracted by chance, by the encounter of their two bodies. Apart from the fact that they are both in their thirties, they really have nothing in common. She frequents the upper echelons of the real estate world, while he is a simple craftsman. She has broken with her family and manages her relationships with military precision: he has found himself a family of friends and lives for laughs. Indeed, even though he is already living with Aurélie, a young woman of twenty-five, Pat embarks upon a relationship that will call all of Caroline’s choices into question.
During an important meeting, Caroline brilliantly convinces a group of important investors. The most prestigious housing complex for miles around is under way. In setting up the financing for the operation, she is charmed by Benoît, a genuine “Mozart of finance”. This flighty Casanova intends to make Caroline the woman of his life. To do so, he uses every means at his disposal, as much on a spiritual as a material level. Caroline flits merrily from Pat, her magnificent, cheeky lover, to Benoît, the chaste and patient knight in shining armour. She continually refuses to go to see Clémence, her sick mother, on her farm in the Auvergne, ignoring the requests of Lucien, her father, who nonetheless comes to Lyon to plead with her.
Caroline has too many other happy moments to experience. She spends an unforgettable night at the home of Christian, a humanist businessman and Pat’s spiritual father, caught up in the general merriment of the songs and frantic rock tunes. Early the next morning, Pat miraculously brings Christian back to life after a sudden heart attack. Caroline is overwhelmed and starts to see Pat in a new light.
The race is on between Caroline and Malard, the architect, to replace Marchancourt, chairman of the group. More and more in love, Benoît puts his skills at Caroline’s service. At the shareholders’ meeting, Caroline gives a masterly speech but she seems to be too ambitious for a family company like this and so her rival is chosen. Urged on by Marchancourt, who had designated her as his favourite, Caroline then launches a huge personal real estate project. She uses up all her savings by signing a promissory note to buy a magnificent plot of land to build on. Pat would like to take part in the project on his own level, but Caroline turns down his offer. She needs money, not strong arms. Indeed, the loan that she has skilfully obtained from her bank only covers three-quarters of her immediate needs. On the site of the future construction project, Benoît is enthusiastic: he will gladly provide Caroline with the money she is lacking. But Pat, jealous, has followed them and surprises them. The two men realize that they are rivals but only clash verbally for now. Feeling abused, Benoît refuses to commit financially and withdraws from the project. Caroline is furious with Pat. Their conversation becomes more heated and bitter and ends up with them parting. Using her charms, Caroline tries to win over Dédé, one of Pat’s childhood friends, whom she met at Christian’s apartment. This mentally fragile professional football player has a fortune at his disposal, but remains insensitive to the magnificent strip show that she puts on for him.
Benoît, harbouring no grudges and still in love with her, sees a distraught and enraged Caroline turn up at his door. He gives the seller another offer for the land. In the meantime, Caroline alone in the apartment, is suddenly assailed by a vision from her past: in a barn, a terrible argument pits her against her mother. She doesn’t wish to help with the backbreaking work of the farm any more. Clémence grabs hold of Caroline who hits her hard. Mad with rage, Clémence turns a hunting rifle on her daughter. Caroline, in a sort of trance, climbs onto the balcony railing, takes a few steps and slips. Hanging by one arm above the drop, she is about to let go. Making a huge effort, she manages to haul herself up just as Benoît comes back, in time to help to save her.
Patient and attentive, he continues to rebuild their relationship. Soon, Caroline’s personal and professional “resurrection” is under way. To celebrate, Benoît organizes a magnificent weekend by the sea. He tells an incredulous friend that, even though there is nothing sexual about his relationship with Caroline yet, her recovered mental health and presence are enough to make him happy. Marc Balcourt, a powerful man at the head of a whole galaxy of companies, quickly brings his attention to bear on Caroline who is radiant with vitality. He backs up his words with acts, but she puts a quick end to his advances. A Jet Ski race between the two of them quickly turns into a dangerous duel. She shows herself to be uncommonly competitive and wins the race, cutting the macho Balcourt to the quick.
Caroline triumphs on a social level. She chairs a debate on economic ethics between top businessmen. Benoît and Balcourt are in the audience. The boss of a small company pleads with Balcourt to save his firm and workers. He is accompanied by Christian, Pat’s friend. Faced with the disgusting cynicism of the corporate raider, Caroline blows her top. Her argument with Balcourt is violent and uncontrolled. Benoît scathingly criticizes Caroline’s attitude that he considers immature and childish. Mad with rage, she leaves him and tries to win Pat back.
But Pat, wary now, sees her without much enthusiasm, in turn sceptical and ironic about the sincerity of her return. She loses her temper and slams the door. Clémence’s condition worsens and this gives Pat an excuse to see Caroline again. He leaves Aurélie and agrees to drive Caroline to the Auvergne. On the way, she describes the harsh conditions of her childhood in the country and the grudges that she harbours against her mother. She claims that Clémence is an extremist, chained to her land, constantly at war against the powers that be, ill at ease with her daughter and seeing Caroline’s rebellion against what she holds dear as the worst betrayal possible. An unbearable mother whom she was able to break away from by fleeing at the age of 18. The two of them have hardly spoken since. Nonetheless, Clémence is a wonderful storyteller and Caroline admits that she owes her determination and part of her talent to her mother.
On the derelict farm, Lucien mopes. His wife, having recovered with some difficulty from a pulmonary embolism, can no longer talk. Unable to utter a word, Clémence is nonetheless touched by the manner in which her daughter talks about her need to be there. The doctor confirms that Clémence is suffering from an incurable form of aphasia or loss of speech. Her vocal chords seem to have been “grated with sandpaper”. Pat, in the meantime, earns the esteem of Caroline’s father, cheered up by the return of his daughter who easily recovers her bearings here. The couple’s good mood cheers the place up. To complete their reconciliation, they spend a happy night together, the first in a long time. Even so, Caroline is still haunted by the past. She goes to the barn. The memories return: she sees herself held at gunpoint by her mother, then snatching the gun from her and shooting her dog because she could not kill her mother. However, when Carolina returns to Clémence’s room, she goes there to express her love for her mute mother and to talk to her about the values that she holds dear. Clémence tries in vain to speak.
Christian and their friends, called to the rescue, arrive at the farm. With Pat and Lucien, they repair the derelict farm buildings. To celebrate the end of the work, the friends prepare a traditional Auvergne meal in the open air. Carolina slips away. In her parents’ bedroom, she puts on Clémence’s old Vichy dress, does her hair up in the same style as her mother and pins the old family butterfly brooch to her dress. Pat – who is the first to see this change in her – is stunned by her beauty. He leads her outside and the effect on Clémence is instant: in the most beautiful voice in the world, she speaks to her daughter, then embraces her as she praises her vibrantly. Caroline and Pat can be happy at last, especially as she has retained some of her professional reflexes and has a few ideas about the real estate development of her abandoned village.
The Crew
Screenplay : Karel SPECTY Marc GAUCHEE Olivier BERLEMONT
Producers : Olivier BERLEMONT Ludovic HENRY
