"Untouchables"

with Université Antonine - 2016-03-22

“Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragements, and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak.”

- Thomas Carlyle –

In Paris, the aristocratic and intellectual Philippe is a millionaire, interviewing candidates for the position of his career. Out of the blue, the rude African Driss cuts the line of candidates and brings a document from the Social Security and asks Phillipe to sign it to prove that he is seeking a job position so he can receive his unemployment benefit. Philippe challenges Driss, offering him a trial period of one month to gain experience helping him. Then Driss can decide whether he would like to stay with him or not. Driss accepts the challenge and moves to his mansion, changing the boring life of Phillipe and his employees.

 

A film about two handicaps, the millionaire who is physically challenged and Driss, who turned out to be socially paralyzed. The movie was chosen to be discussed in a course because of its prominent content as well as the socio-cultural aspect it carries; present in the syllabus provided by the French curriculum followed by Universite Antonine.  

 

This event was organized by the Centre of Languages at the Universite Antonine, in favor of the students enrolled in “French Class-B2” which is a remedial course that most scholars undertake. To pass this course, an oral test must be acquired, during which the academics must participate in a debate in the presence of a jury.

The Centre of Languages was adequately creative to organize this event, during which the debate tackled the movie Intouchables or Untouchables in favor of the month of “Francophonie” or French speaking cultures. Thirty undergraduates from different faculties of the university, contributed to this discussion engaging in several aspects of the film, in front of three animators: Mrs. Bassma Ghaly, Mrs. Huguette Abou Mrad and Mrs. Hala Mousalem.


                                                          


Many facets were brought to light, like the humanitarian dimension the film contains, how to perceive the less fortunate and the handicapped, acknowledging the differences among individuals and accepting one’s paralysis whichever it may be. 

Université Antonine