Nationale 7
Nationale 7
| 06 December 2000 (USA)
Nationale 7 Trailers

In a nursing home for disabled near Toulon, René is unanimously hated by all. With fifty years and suffering from myopathy, has an irascible, rebellious character. But not resist provocations candor and uprightness of Julie, a special educator rookie. He confesses he wants to make love to a woman before her degenerative disease definitely catch it. Then Julie goes after one of the prostitutes who work in caravans along the N7.

Reviews
Titreenp SERIOUSLY. This is what the crap Hollywood still puts out?
Supelice Dreadfully Boring
WillSushyMedia This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.
Teddie Blake The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.
melimelo-3 Warm-hearted, so human, funny and tragic all at once! Don't be thrown off by the image quality (it was all shot on video) or the subtitles, this film is a gem! The subject might make some uncomfortable but if you are not afraid to see something about the sexual desires of the handicapped, something honest, open and realistic, go for it! The main character is great too, great actor. All the characters are very attaching (save some of the nurses). It's a shame this movie has not been distributed in the US! I guess maybe there was some scare of puritanical reactions given the topic... With the proper exposure, it could become a cult classic!
bob the moo With unemployment high, Julie takes a job at a disabled persons home and is assigned to the difficult and abusive Rene as one of her group. Rene is rude and distances himself from everyone with his anger and turns of rage. Failing to stop his anger but winning his trust, Julie learns of the reason for Rene's anger – he has not had sex for many months and, with his appearance and disability is unlikely to ever be able to win over a woman again. Rene asks Julie to get him a prostitute to help him out.If advertising, music videos, films and television has taught us anything then it is that sex and sexuality is the possession of the young, thin and beautiful. This is not to say that fat, ugly, stupid, old or disabled people don't have sex or aren't sexy, just that them doing it is not something that the mainstream media wants to have anything to do with! I'm not stating these things as fact but this is what we are taught by the images we get everyday – hence this film (also called 'Uneasy Riders') seemed a bit of a tough sell. And indeed it is and it is to its credit that it manages to slowly win you over while still challenging at the same time. The plot is simple but it is the characters and the script that wins the day; the disabled characters are treated with as much dignity as the able bodied staff and there is no judgment here. The narrative at times is unlikely but it works well and the ending's step back into the reality is an inventive and nice touch. The digital video feels a little cheap at times until you get used to it and the direction is a bit too amateur and rough for my own tastes (too close, too jerky etc) but it is covered by the strong material and isn't a major detraction.The cast of mostly non-professionals do very well, although it is sometimes difficult to accept them as 'people'; I don't mean this as a dig but it is hard to shake off the image of the disabled that the mass media has given me (us) and take this film on fresh. Kaci is very attractive but also very human, she is sympathetic and frustrated by equal measure and she is not as simple a character as she could have been. Gourmet manages to make Rene difficult but do it without alienating the audience. His desire for sex is difficult to accept (again – what I am told everyday by the media) but he makes his Rene a real person and it really works well. The support cast are mostly non-professionals and they do well; not all of them are given as much to work with as Gourmet but they provide colour and life that also helps to challenge preconceptions. Overall this is not an easy film to get into at first but it quickly wins you over with its cheerful view of humanity and warmth. The script and actors give all the characters a real sense of reality and dignity and it easily overcomes the views that we are fed by the media on a daily basis (what is and isn't normal). Not without flaws but well worth a look for what it does.
richemily I saw this on BBC4 recently having previously never heard of it. I was surprised I hadn't as it is a brilliant, funny and rewarding film. The serious topic is treated with warmth and respect and I found the last scene especially touching.
hughbt Despite what seemed like a very crass ending, I did actually really enjoy this film. I would have liked to see the film deal more with some of the more harsh realities that people face however a very good job nevertheless. I would like to be able to use it as a training tool and wonder if anyone has any notion of how I may obtain a copy?