Why? Because every other candidate saw a wheelchair. Driss saw a man.
What makes the film so powerful is what it refuses to do. It refuses to be a tragedy. It refuses to make Driss a saintly “magical Negro” who exists only to teach Philippe how to live. And it refuses to let Philippe be a passive victim. Instead, it’s a buddy comedy about two stubborn, flawed men who constantly roast each other. The film’s most moving scene isn't a weepy monologue—it’s Driss walking away from Philippe at the end, knowing that real love sometimes means leaving so the other can truly live. intouchables french movie
The Intouchables is a French film released in 2011, directed by Olivier Nakache and Éric Toledano. The movie is based on the true story of Philippe Pozzo di Borgo and his caregiver, Driss Bassiry. What makes the film so powerful is what it refuses to do
: The film is widely regarded as one of the best "feel-good" movies of all time. It is often recommended for those looking for inspirational stories or for students at a B1 level or above looking to improve their French . And it refuses to let Philippe be a passive victim
Upon release, The Intouchables became the second-highest-grossing French film of all time (behind only Welcome to the Sticks ). It was nominated for a BAFTA for Best Foreign Language Film and won Omar Sy the César Award for Best Actor—the first Black recipient of the award. It was later remade in Hollywood as The Upside (2017), but critics agreed the original’s raw, Gallic charm was impossible to duplicate.
And that’s precisely why Philippe hires him.