MovieChat Forums > À perdre la raison (2012) Discussion > André's motivation

André's motivation

posted 10 years ago by phelpsg1
6 replies | jump to latest

We were utterly mystified by André's behavior. He marries Mounir's sister (a sham marriage) and gives Françoise 100,000 Euros (!) to get a sham marriage with Mounir's brother. Why in the world is he doing all this for the Moroccan family? This goes way beyond any "nice guy" favors. And it's not as if he has millions and the money doesn't matter, since he seems to be in financial difficulties toward the end. Do the Moroccans have some kind of hold over him? Blackmail? There are hints in one scene that he is suspected of a pederastic relationship with Mounir, but this doesn't seems to be actually the case. There are clearly dependence and control issues involved, but we couldn't figure out just why he would do all this?

And Murielle's motivations also seem peculiar (granted that she is losing her mind). Why does she shoplift the knives, when she could certainly pay for them (and she must have enough knives in the kitchen already to do the job). And why is she so concerned about the children being buried in Morocco?

Does anybody have any insights into what's going on with these characters?

[–] iamella 10 years ago

You have correctly laid out character weaknesses that drove Andre's puppetmaster craziness. In the end, his reputation (and livelihood) also drove his most damaging actions and comments to Murielle (you can't see the therapist, etc.). As to motivations, who the heck knows other than "buying" himself a beautiful family. As each child grew cuter and cuter, you could see his happiness. There were other happy times throughout the five or six years covered by the film.

Having said that, wouldn't you say most of us, although longing for a loving and grateful family, know that simply paying for everything and creating the dependencies has not worked historically and so why sacrifice time and treasure? (Maybe, better said, most of don't have that much time and treasure anyway).

A fascinating theme and very well done film.

^^^
Absolutism is the enemy of resolution

[–] PoppyTransfusion 10 years ago

My take is that Andre was in love, or infatuated, with Mounir. Everything he did was because of Mounir. I don't think there was any blackmail as such just pressure from the family.

I think you've answered the Q about Murielle and the knives although it's possible that Andre has removed knives from the kitchen in the house in case she harms herself.

I think she wanted the children to be in the homeland of their grandmother with whom Murielle was shown to have a deep, emotional bond.

The distance is nothing. The first step is the hardest.

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] Errington_92 10 years ago

The subject of this movie is horrific and deeply disturbing, yet I didn't feel the movie sufficiently owned it. It felt too vague, halfhearted and incomplete.

I concur. Our Children certainly was an intriguing film in terms of exploring the themes of male/female roles in family, yet there was not even depth to make the climax compelling.

I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not.

[–] shoutingagain 9 years ago

yes, bluesdoctor, you got it all right.

And it IS pretty disturbing not much is mentioned about the rape on the doctor's bed (or when husband slaps her for having fallen asleep when she's clearly in emotional distress & exhaustion). She failed to get any of the necessary help or care her actions clearly rang out for.

[–] 9 years ago

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