The Specials (Hors Normes) is showing in Golden Screen Cinemas from 24th September as part of GSC’s autism awareness campaign “We Are All Special.” RM1 from every ticket sold will be donated to selected autism charities and organisations including NASOM and Autism Café Project.
Note: We are aware of the differences in opinion regarding how to address those with autism but have elected to use “autistic person” as highlighted by the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. We understand that this may not suit everyone, but no offence is intended.
Making a social issues movie when the cinemas are dominated by Hollywood blockbusters like the Marvel Cinematic Universe is a tricky endeavour.
How to go about highlighting an issue you feel strongly about, without coming off as overly preachy, or worse, as somehow treating a serious subject matter too lightly? How to educate but also entertain? It’s a fine line that The Specials (original French title Hors Normes) walks almost perfectly.
Olivier Nakache and Éric Toledano’s film chronicles a number of days in the life of Bruno Haroche (Vincent Cassel) and those around him, as he tries to manage his “La Voix des Justes” care center for various adolescents with autism spectrum disorder who need a great deal of support. Underfunded, oversubscribed, and with more and more people needing his help, Bruno has the added difficulty of dealing with an upcoming inspection by the Inspection générale des affaires socials (General Inspectorate of Social Affairs). As the origination is not certified and recruits caregivers from the more impoverished parts of French society, questions have arisen over how effectively Bruno can care for those in his custody.
Brothers in Arms
Unlike the cast of a show like Love on the Spectrum, most of Bruno’s charges live with more severe forms of autism spectrum disorder, with many having suffered at the hands of the medical establishment through long periods of confinement or over medication. As a result The Specials focuses slightly more on the caregivers themselves who, despite any formal medical training, provide one-on-one attention and organise excursions to try and help those in their care.
The result is an incredibly warm and engaging film.
Shot very much in the style of Louis-Julien Petit’s Les Invisibles, which previously showed as part of GSC’s 2019 European Union Film Festival, The Specials also flows fluidly around those who work in Bruno and Malik’s unconventional programs, but primarily follows a soulful Cassel as, with one earpiece permanently affixed to one ear, he jumps from one crisis to the next. Trying to find space in his overcrowded program for one more autistic person who needs support, breaking in new staff, trying to find a partner via Shidduchim (Jewish blind dates), all while making sure he has time for Joseph, the autistic man who first inspired Bruno to get involved. Oddly enough both The Specials and Les Invisibles also feature washing machine repair in prominent plot points!
Edutainment?
While the material would seem to lend itself to becoming preachy or to glorifying Bruno as suffering from some kind of saviour complex, the film remains firmly grounded throughout. Without feeling cloying or sentimental, the emotion nonetheless sneaks up on you, thanks to the performances and the constant presence up of Bloodflow by Grandbrothers on the soundtrack, providing a beating heart for the film.
As versions of the real life duo of Stéphane Benhamou and Daoud Tatou, Vincent Cassel and Reda Kateb (as Bruno and Malik), exude warmth and sincerity. Most of the people in Bruno and Malik’s care can’t tolerate any change of schedule or disruption, highlighting just how much commitment is required to do their jobs. That they recruit their caregivers from the more impoverished neighbourhoods of Paris, from those who have also fallen through cracks in modern French society, provide both difficulty and opportunity.
The triumvirate of Malik, Bryan Mialoundama as a sullen fresh caregiver Dylan, and Marco Locatelli as the non-verbal, self harming Valentin, give Cassel a run for his money in the dramatic stakes.
A League of His Own
As does autistic actor Benjamin Lesieur, one of many autistic actors in the cast, who delivers an earnest, funny performance as Bruno’s friend and inspiration, Joseph. Jospeh constantly wants to see others’ socks, likes to rest his head on people’s shoulders, and has difficulties riding a train without pulling the emergency cord, but represents the hopeful endpoint for all the attendees of Bruno and Malik’s programs, able to live his own, independent, and happy life.
The Specials draws attention to just how much support is required for some of those with autistic spectrum disorder and how little is available, even in France’s universal healthcare system. Imagine how bad it must be elsewhere?
Does The Specials succeed as a social issues film? Very much so. Entertaining, funny, heartfelt, and illuminating. Take a break from the bang and bluster of modern cinema and make time to watch it while you can.
The Specials (Hors Normes)
114 minutes
Directors: Olivier Nakache and Éric Toledano
Writers: Olivier Nakache and Éric Toledano
Cast: Vincent Cassel, Reda Kateb, Benjamin Lesieur, Bryan Mialoundama, Alban Ivanov, Marco Locatelli, and Lyna Khoudri
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