Les invasions barbares

Les invasions barbares is a sequel to Arcand’s Le déclin de l’empire américain from 1986. Arcand reunites the former protagonists -a group of left-wing intellectual friends from Francophone Canada -almost twenty years later. The idealism of their generation has largely gone, it clashes too much with today’s reality. Yet the emotional bond they still share keeps them together. The group gather again because their friend Remy is dying. His son Sébastien (he is involved in some capitalist venture with oil, the stock exchange and insurance in London) has summoned them all to make his father’s last days a little more agreeable. Sébastien also manages to skirt surreptitiously the infuriating bureaucratic fuss of the hospital. Arcand’s social satire takes a close look at the shadier side of Canada: the chaotic hospital, dysfunctional families, drug addiction. A broad-minded nun tries to save souls and sanity, but is thwarted by the sharp opinions batted back and forth between Remy and his friends like ping pong balls. However behind the witticisms there are also genuine feelings, that gain ground as Remy’s condition deteriorates. Arcand’s years of experience directing actors can be seen in the powerful performance by the cast and the graceful style in this ensemble piece.