Priceless
A Film Review: Hors de prix (2006)
Parce que l’amour
c’est offrir une main vide
et la remplir d’une autre main.
C’est l’amour.
C’est tout...
To call ‘Priceless’ a romantic comedy would be selling it short. It’s much more than this and much deeper than this. Jacques Lacan summarized the essence of the romantic relationship as an exchange of shortcomings, rather than a gift of abundance. Love as a gift of emptiness: Love, according to Lacan, is not giving what one has, but offering what one does not have — that is to say one’s own lack, one’s fault, one’s absence. This is called the gift of lack. This gesture is not an act of generosity towards a complete being, but a recognition of the impossibility of fulfilling the other, and of oneself. Love is then born in this link between two gaps, in the moment when two beings recognize their mutual insufficiency. This is what makes it tragically beautiful: and it is precisely this impossibility that makes it alive. It is this fragile bond, between two gaps, that makes love. That’s all.
Jean the bartender started to pick up dog-walking at his high end resort as his side-hustle during the days. He was dismayed how his clientele had humanized their pets to a ludicrous level: “Was he fulfilled?” one asked, “He’s very introverted” she says.
Not surprisingly, he couldn’t keep his eyes open at his bar that slow night. He falls asleep in his bartender tuxedo with a cognac in one hand and a cigar in the other, gifted from a departing guest. Enter Irène played brilliantly by Audrey Tautou of Amélie (2001) fame. And the comedy and romance ensues.
It’s Irène’s birthday and her very wealthy ‘John’ for the weekend passed out. She was just looking for a drink and maybe a laugh and some company for her festive night. Upon stumbling onto Jean with his tuxedo and cigar, she presumes that he’s a potential future client not the dog-walking bartender. It takes Jean a moment but he quickly decides to play along to see where this could lead. Of course, it leads straight to hilarity with deeper undertones.
Jean quickly spends all of his savings for any moments with Irène, culminating in a memorable scene where he is penniless with the exception of one final Euro. He asks Irène, “How much does one euro buy me?”. To which she responds, “Ten seconds”. Jean promptly agrees, “Deal”.
In a comical turn of events, they find themselves staying at the same resort in Nice and Irène notices herself falling for Jean’s wit and charm, as broke as he is. They both recognize they are being drawn together but like the opening poem, they acknowledge that they have nothing to offer one another: “C’est offrir une main vide”, it’s offering an empty hand.
Irène begs Jean to help her land her next John, to which he responds “Tell me what you need me to do, and I’ll do it”. At this point, their attachment becomes overwhelming. They can no longer deny that they are meant to be together and they decide to start over with their one remaining Euro.
It’s subtle, clever and comical. It’s under-stated with stunning surroundings. It reminds us that there was a time and place not so long ago, where love stories were all that we had. Charm & wit, character & faith and love brings them together in the end. It’s a beautiful story and a fantastic laugh and ride. Priceless.
Connect the dots of major events to historical echoes, from an international expat perspective. Deus vult! Viva Cristo Rey! Christ is King! Jesus is a Palestinian.
