With En tongs au pied de l'Himalaya, director John Wax signs a bittersweet comedy that explores the challenges of parenthood through the journey of Pauline, played by Audrey Lamy. Alongside Nicolas Chupin and Benjamin Tranié, Audrey Lamy plays a single mother who, despite the obstacles, does everything in her power to offer a stable life to her son Andréa, a 6.5-year-old with an autism spectrum disorder. The film promises to mix humor and emotion, tackling complex subjects with lightness and kindness.
The film En tongs au pied de l'Himalaya will be released in cinemas from November 13, 2024.
Synopsis: Pauline is the mother of Andréa, aged 6 and a half, a wonderful little boy who has been diagnosed with ASD: an "autism spectrum disorder". He's not quite up to speed, but he's still in school and is about to start in the first year of kindergarten. For Pauline, with no fixed income and recently separated from Fabrice, Andréa's father, everything seems to conspire to make her life a succession of failures. But for Andréa, it's a crucial year that will determine whether or not he can stay in school and have a better chance of seeing his condition improve. But for that to happen, Andréa needs stability, and for Pauline, providing it is a bit (a lot) like climbing the Himalayas in flip-flops...
En tongs au pied de l'Himalaya, directed by John Wax, deals with the daily life of a single mother, Pauline, played by Audrey Lamy, who is raising her autistic son alone, with poignant sensitivity and a touch of humor. The film stands out for its realistic, unvarnished approach to parenthood, evoking with modesty the challenges and tender moments that punctuate Pauline's life. Using a Himalayan metaphor, Wax illustrates the immense obstacles faced by parents of atypical children, who are often "in flip-flops", i.e. ill-equipped to cope with the difficulties of everyday life. Does the film manage to move people and make them laugh without lapsing into pathos? Let's decipher this subtly balanced work.
Audrey Lamy impresses in a dramatic register, playing an imperfect but deeply devoted mother, struggling to offer her son a dignified life despite the pitfalls. Her performance is unanimously praised for its accuracy and emotional power. Lamy, often known for her comedic roles, displays a range of emotions here, from despondency to resilience, to moments of tender complicity with her son. She makes Pauline particularly believable, a mother who, like all mothers, makes mistakes but takes courageous steps forward. This sincerity allows viewers to identify with and share her moments of raw emotion and laughter, making the film profoundly human.
John Wax manages to avoid the clichés of the social drama or subject film, opting for a nuanced, respectful approach. The simple, effective direction follows Pauline's point of view, often struggling, sometimes pausing for breath. This intimate vision enables the film to navigate between the seriousness of the subject and lighter scenes, such as the hilarious one at the dentist's, played by Jean-Pascal Zady, who, after removing his mask, explains to Pauline that "it's never too late to have your teeth redone" with a playful smile. These moments of well-judged comedy ease the tension and give the film a light-hearted dimension, making the subject more accessible without minimizing its importance.
In addition to this narrative sensibility, Wax inserts well-crafted secondary characters, such as the school teacher who refuses to adapt the end-of-year show to include Pauline's son. This choice not to sugarcoat Pauline's difficulties reinforces the authenticity of the work and makes it all the more powerful.
The Himalayas, far from being a backdrop in this film, become a symbol of the challenges Pauline faces on a daily basis. The title, En tongs au pied de l'Himalaya (In flip-flops at the foot of the Himalayas), metaphorically conveys the reality of parents of children with autism spectrum disorders: they must overcome mountains of obstacles without adequate resources. The film shows a mother constantly off-balance, confronted by a society ill-suited to atypical children, but who nevertheless forges ahead with unshakeable determination. It is this metaphor that gives the film all its symbolic power, finely illustrating the solitude, incomprehension and perseverance of parents faced with a mountain of obstacles.
The film will appeal primarily to viewers sensitive to family dramas, and to those looking for a realistic, empathetic portrayal of the struggles faced by parents of children with disabilities. The film will also appeal to fans of stories where emotion rubs shoulders with humor, offering a delicate balance between laughter and tears. Those affected by similar realities will see it as a mirror of their own challenges, while others will discover a new and enlightening perspective. With its endearing characters and serious yet light-hearted tone, En tongs au pied de l'Himalaya will appeal to those looking for an inspiring, human and heartfelt story.
In flip-flops at the foot of the Himalayas brilliantly manages to deal with a complex subject without ever sinking into pathos. Thanks to an exceptional performance by Audrey Lamy and sensitive direction by John Wax, the film stands out for its sincerity and balance between emotion and humor. While aptly addressing the ordeals faced by the families of autistic children, the film also encourages resilience and empathy. It's a touching, often funny, but always respectful work that will resonate with audiences for a long time to come.
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