Sophie Guillemin in Harry, un ami qui vous veut du bien (2000)

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The last two summers haven't represented the apex of Hollywood's contribution to the planet, which allowed some offbeat foreign films to sneak into America under the radar this summer.

With a friend like Harry... is an out-and-out Hitchcock film. It includes character names from some of The Master's previous films, liberal use of his camera techniques, and a plot which owes a substantial debt of gratitude to Strangers on a Train . I don't mean to say that this film is merely in the manner of Hitchcock, ala Final Analysis or The Bedroom Window, or indebted to Hitchcock, like Blood Simple. No, this IS a Hitchcock film. The French director, Dominik Moll, really tried to make the film that Hitchcock would have made if he were still with us (and spoke French). Moll is really good at this, so why not make another Hitchcock film if you can really pull it off?

Have you ever been the object of a friend's love that you simply couldn't return, or of the worship of a pseudo-friend that really made you uncomfortable? Then picture this:

You stop for a potty break at a rest stop on the interstate, and run into an old high school acquaintance. He remembers everything about you, even though you can't remember him at all. He goes on an on about your friends and family, and he knows details even you have forgotten.

He and his girlfriend seem innocent enough, so you invite them over to the house, and it is over dinner and drinks that you find his knowledge of you to be deeply disturbing. Oh, you're no writer but, like many people, you wrote a poem in the literary gazette in high school. Your visitor not only remembers the poem, he has it memorized. Not only that, but he remembers another unfinished work that you created in school, but never completed, and can barely remember.

At first, you though this guy's memories of you were flattering. But this level of attention is downright creepy. This guy doesn't seem to be a homosexual, but it is obvious that you were his first love! What is not so obvious, but reveals itself slowly, is that this guy is as nutty as a fruitcake. He doesn't have both oars in the water. The gate is down and the light is flashing, but there's no train coming. He has some splinters in the Windmills of his Mind.

Worse than that, he's in your house, and there's no getting rid of him or his attentions. Ultimately, the story boils down to the fact the he wants you all to himself, and he won't share you - not with your wife, your daughters, your parents .....

So who will kill whom and how soon? And will they regret it?

Cool movie. It is in French, but the American dubbing isn't too bad, so you can watch it dubbed or sub-titled. I watched the English track with the English subtitles, and was astounded to see how completely different they were. Sorry to say I can't tell you which was better, since I don't know French, but I enjoyed the film.

The director uses virtually no background music. He builds tension with the ambient noise, and the additional soundtrack consists entirely of a really creepy, old version of the American chestnut "Ramona", as sung with a very heavy accent. (I think by Delores Del Rio).

Nudity Report: Sophie Guillemin shows her buns, in good light, in a nude conversation.

Critics Vote: General consensus: three stars. Ebert 3/4, Berardinelli 3/4, BBC 4/5.

IMDB Summary: IMDb voters score it 7.5.

Box Office: it took in $4 million in the USA, which is excellent for a French film. It was successful in Spain and France. It took in about $16 million in France, very solid in a country with 1/5 the population of the USA.

DVD Info: Widescreen anamorphic, 2.35:1, English dubbing or subtitles or both, no extras.


Written by: Scoopy …courtesy of Scoopy.net