16/08/2023 - Exploring familial ties and challenging industry conventions, Paul Vecchiali's last film is a testament to the unwavering spirit of auteur cinema at its barest essentials

Pascal Cervo (left) and Paul Vecchiali (right) in Bonjour la langue

When veteran French filmmaker Paul Vecchiali passed away in January 2023 at the age of 92, he left behind an unfinished work, Bonjour la langue [+see also:
trailer
film profile]. Vecchiali originally intended to adapt a novel; however, facing consistent setbacks and a drive to produce, he pivoted to an improvised project, filmed in just one day in October 2022. Vecchiali acts alongside his regular collaborator, Pascal Cervo, in a family drama set across three locations. After a six-year hiatus, Jean-Luc (Pascal Cervo) confronts his father Charles (Paul Vecchiali) for prioritising his passion for work over family, in a minimalist oeuvre that touches upon relationships, conflicts, regrets, and the impermanence of life.

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Vecchiali was a regular at the Locarno Film Festival, and the Swiss event paid tribute to the French filmmaker, often described as "one of the last great filmmakers of his generation." They showcased his final work, a testament to his enduring passion for creation. This film was both a homage to and a response to Jean-Luc Godard's Goodbye to Language [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], and it is dedicated to the pioneering director.

Bonjour la langue begins as something of a prodigal son tale but quickly shifts into the melodramatic exchanges for which Vecchiali's works are known. The film highlights the director's knack for bringing intimate stories to the fore, driven by his penchant for exploring human vulnerabilities and desires. Together with Cervo, they begin to unravel a family drama, unearthing past scars, suppressed remorse, and hidden secrets.

Bonjour la langue, a dialogue-driven DIY film originally titled Au nom du père, was structured in five acts by the director: Return, Questions, Command, Meal, and Farewell. While each act had a brief description, the final act, intended as an epilogue, remained a complete surprise for Pascal Cervo. He is confronted with a family revelation that leaves him profoundly shaken and consternated.

The film naturally follows Cervo-Vecchiali's previous collaborations, most notably echoing Le Cancre [+see also:
trailer
film profile]. Vecchiali has seamlessly integrated a few shots from Le Cancre, providing a retrospective backdrop for the father-son relationship and offering a meta-cinematic layer to the film. Interestingly, despite an initially leisurely pace and a straightforward arrangement, the editing establishes a rhythm that maintains momentum, producing an emotional dynamism that balances the perceived simplicity of a cinema pared down to the barest essentials.

While the film presents as a family etude between two actors, Bonjour la langue is both a film-manifesto and a radical gesture, particularly in relation to industry norms and challenges. This film embodies the creative freedom Vecchiali advocated for throughout his career, which in turn solidified his status as an auteur and the artistic independence for which he was acclaimed. Bonjour la langue is a testament to Vecchiali's prolific legacy, with a filmography of over 70 works, placing him alongside filmmakers like Manoel de Olivera and Alejandro Jodorowsky (who is currently preparing the feature-length film The Essential Voyage, read the news), all of them dedicated to their craft until their very last breath.

Bonjour la langue was produced by Dialectik and has been supported by Shellac Sud.