THE ADVENTURES OF FELIX (DROLE DE FELIX)
When Felix (Sami Bouajila, "The Siege") loses his job, he decides to travel from Dieppe to Marseilles to visit the father he never knew. He buys his teacher boyfriend Daniel (Pierre-Loup Rajot) a ticket to meet him in a week's time and sets off on a journey that will net him a family of a different kind in "The Adventures of Felix" (Drole de Felix).
The writer/director partnership of Olivier Ducastel and Jacques Martineau ("Jeanne and the Perfect Guy") begin their film by establishing Felix' loving relationship with Daniel in the coastal Normandy town of Dieppe. Daniel is amused to discover that Felix has become addicted to a soap opera during his job on a commuter ferry boat, Felix has a run-in with an inexperienced kite flyer and he visits the local clinic for his HIV cocktail. These three experiences will gain new significance as part of Felix' trip.
Once Felix hits the road, his adventures are titled as 'My little brother,' 'My grandmother,' 'My cousin,' 'My sister,' and finally 'My father.' These relationships are all symbolic and recognized by the audience well before Felix makes the connection.
Sami Bouajila has our good will before he sets out on the road, where his tendency to break out into song and dance as he travels makes him even more endearing. His first significant encounter, where he witnesses a fellow Arab being beaten in a racist attack in Rouen, will haunt the rest of his journey. Felix bounces back by assisting a young art student, Jules (Charly Segue), a seventeen year old who sneaks Felix into his bedroom for the night hoping for romance. The two 'borrow' a car and later Felix takes Jules into his first disco (they get thrown out when Jules' age is discovered). Felix defines their relationship as like a younger/older brother, disappointing Jules but leaving him with new life experiences, and moves on.
Felix is prodded awake by Mathilde (cabaret singer Patachou in a marvelous comedic performance), a firecracker of an older woman who insists that he carry her groceries. This sequence is rich with warm humor, as Felix does the chores Mathilde's son never gets around to while his sexuality makes her relive her wild youth ('I was a hot tomato.'). Their shared morning ritual of pill taking and soap opera viewing over breakfast highlights the similarities between two diverse individuals.
'The Cousin' sequence, where Felix meets a railroad worker (Philippe Garziano) and shares outdoor sex and some kite flying, is perfunctorily handled and doesn't mesh well with the film's themes or pacing. Felix moves on to assist a woman on the side of the road. Isabelle (Ariane Ascaride, "Marius et Jeannette") is going in Felix' direction, but must make stops along the way to deliver her three children to their three respective fathers. The kids provide some hilarity, especially when young Tonio (Adrien Auzias) challenges Felix' conventional ideas about family. Felix' final encounter with an old fisherman (Maurice Benichou) leaves them both with fresh outlooks on life and is satisfyingly poignant. A worried Daniel meets up with a more self aware, but still boyishly engaging, lover ready to take a romantic holiday.
Director of Photography Matthieu Poirot-Delpech captures the glories of his north to south French locations in brilliant color while the classical guitar score provides a Middle Eastern flavor. Except for that one abruptly handled sequence, Ducastel and Martineau deliver a socially conscious, humanistic, funny road movie that's always engrossing. "The Adventures of Felix" and its star have charm to spare.
B+
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