I give 10/10 only to films I cannot get out of my head, and Denys Arcand's « Les Invasions Barbares » is one of them. I watched it shortly after its release in 2003, and I have periodically watched it again until now (2018) : This movie is timeless and can be watched over and over, like a play by Shakespeare. Arcand's previous « Le déclin de l'Empire Américain » is an immensely enjoyable film, but much more linked to a specific period - circa the 1970s and '80s - and to a specific close-knit group of adult intellectual baby-boomers living through an unrestrained exploration of sex encounters, an exploration inextricably enmeshed with wanton destruction of families and - for some of the group - with a quest for love, explicit or not. « Les Invasions Barbares » has a theme in continuity with « Le déclin », but what makes this film "intemporel" is that each character is led to take stock of his or her life by the spectacle of a man (Rémy) they love, or come to love, dying right before their eyes. The viewer instinctively knows that for a number of these characters, notably the younger including this man's son, his son's companion, his daughter, and most radically his junkie caretaker, their life will be changed ever after. A meditation on what a meaningful life is, on the irrepressible need to leave one's mark in this world, on where societies go when religion recedes, on what love means for the sons and daughters of divorced parents, on seeing an entire generation ditch their joyful idealistic errors only to watch them replaced by the no-nonsense materialistic errors of a new generation, this film « Les Invasions Barbares » reminds one of the beautiful song « On vit les uns avec les autres » by French-Canadian Fabienne Thibeault : even when surrounded by friends and siblings we are always alone, facing our Creator at the time of our death - or, which is infinitely more terrifying, facing emptiness. The middle film of Denys Arcand's trilogy, « Jésus de Montréal », has not worked on me the same magic, maybe because my religious beliefs have made me uneasy with Arcand's transgression. The synopsis is simple : if Jesus came onto this Earth today, he would be put into a mental institution and sedated to the rest of his days ! A bit too much for me, even though I understand it to be a denunciation by Arcand of the materialistic "pensée unique" of our times. Arcand has depth, creativity and talent. His trilogy is a unique combination of films that make one think. Thank you Denys !

The Barbarian Invasions (2003): Dir: Denys Arcand / Cast: Remy Girard, Stephane Rousseau, Dorothee Berryman, Marie-Josee Croze, Louise Portal: Very funny and often touching French Canadian film about change, attitude and eternity. It stars Stephane Rousseau as a London Investment banker whose father, played by Remy Girard is seriously ill. Accompanied by his fiancé he flies to Canada to confront the father he would never relate too. Similar to Big Fish and The Event in its inclusion of family and friends when life comes to a close. Similar to Marvin's Room and One True Thing in its disregard for eternity after death. Very well written with hilarious dialogue throughout but conclusion brings cause for disagreement. Directed by Denys Arcand as a sequel to his The Decline of the American Empire, and thankfully avoids duplicating that film's cleverness and instead measures its own unique spin as a sequel. Girard is hilarious reflecting on his lust for women while Rousseau plays off the frustration of his son. Dorothee Berryman plays his divorced mother. Marie-Josee Croze steals scenes as a drug addict who supplies heroine to kill the pain in Girard. Well crafted Canadian cinema that still continues to clever storytelling of the first film as well as the hilarious moments. It is a detailed film about living and sharing life before it ultimately conclusion. Score: 8 / 10

Politics cannot be put aside in this film! The birth of all consciousness whether it is a barbarian invasion or not begins in the round or world egg.It is the mythology of the Uroborus or circular snake that weds, slays and impregnates itself... and the serpent that bites its own tail n the Garden of Eden.This labyrinth of a story is centered around a serial seducer college professor no longer seductive and dying.What blows my mind is that his first wife and children are so loving and forgiving given this creepy snake like man. They are altruistic in helping the mistresses children!In this case the uroborus snake has slayed himself in his self defeating serial seducing of women. In biting his own tail..there is a surprising amount of character development for all.Quebec have much to teach Americans about the rippling effects of being our brothers keeper in spite of all odds.

And once more here we have a movie that shows you in order to make a good and effective movie, all you need is a good script and some talented persons involved, both in front and behind the camera's. Good movies don't always need to cost a lot of money to become successful ones, both critically and financially.This Oscar winning Canadian movie is actually a sequel to the 1986 movie "Le déclin de l'empire américain", by the same director and also mostly the same cast. But is it also necessarily to see that movie first? Not really. It doesn't matter all that much for its story, I would imaging, though it probably will give the story and some of its characters some extra depth and emotions behind them.Thing with this movie is that you can take it as both a political movie/social commentary or simply as a drama. It all depends on how much you're reading between the lines. I for one simply took this as a drama and perhaps you have to be Canadian yourself to fully appreciate and understand everything this movie is trying to do and tell.The one and foremost thing I got out of this movie was that its story was telling you that you can live life all the way you want but in the end it will always be your family that will comfort- and bring you true joy and pleasure in life. And in that regard, this drama also truly works out very well.It's also because the very realistic characters. None of them are without his or hers flaws really and just like its story, nothing is ever black or white. Nothing and no one is truly good or evil and people all make their mistakes in life, no mater how good the indentation are. Yes, you could say that this is one of those movies that is basically being like a random slice of life, with realistic people and emotions in it.The movie of course also truly thrives on its great directing approach by Denys Arcand. He handles, the drama, the comedy and basically everything else in between very well and make it a very well balanced movie with all of its many ingredients and heavy subjects. Besides that, it's a very good looking movie, with a very distinctive style as well.Simply a good and effective movie, you can hardly say anything bad about.8/10http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/