A Difficult Year

April 29, 2024

Showings 4:30, 7:00 and 9:10pm

France | 2023 | French (English subtitles) | Comedy drama | 120 minutes

The latest from writer-directors Olivier Nakache and Éric Toledano is a puckish comedy about finding a reason for being — even when the world seems to be falling apart. When Bruno and Albert first meet, neither is in a good way. Bruno has just stolen a television, while Albert responds to being evicted with a bumbling suicide attempt. Bruno manages to save this doped-up stranger’s life and a friendship is born.

They have something in common: each suffers an addiction to buying stuff, and both are drowning in debt. They take classes from debt-reduction expert Henri, though he, too, has a long record of overspending that threatens to follow him forever. One day, Bruno and Albert crash a meeting held by a group of activists dedicated to fighting overconsumption. The guys came for free beer and have zero interest in speeches about climate change or energy-boosting hugs… well, maybe they’d like the hugs, especially if they come from the group’s beautiful leader, who manages to persuade them to participate in elaborate demonstrations that Bruno hopes will spark a love affair — if he doesn’t get arrested first. A Difficult Year is driven by a belief in people’s fundamental ability to change — and the ability to find beauty in even the bleakest moments.