Watch The Intouchables

The Intouchables is a French comedy-drama film that was released in 2011. It stars François Cluzet as Philippe, a wealthy tetraplegic who hires a young man from the projects, Driss (played by Omar Sy), to be his live-in caregiver. What starts off as an unlikely pairing soon develops into an endearing friendship between two individuals from vastly different backgrounds.

Philippe is left paralyzed from the neck down after a paragliding accident and requires round-the-clock care. Driss applies for the caregiver job solely to obtain Philippe's signature on a rejection letter to maintain his unemployment benefits. Driss lacks any qualifications or experience, but his down-to-earth personality and candid demeanor impress Philippe. He decides to give Driss a chance, seeing his potential beyond his troubled past.

As Driss adjusts to his new role, the two men bond over shared interests like classical music and art. Driss also exposes Philippe to hip hop music and humorously chides his bourgeois tastes. Philippe, in turn, broadens Driss' limited horizons by taking him to the opera and fine art museums. Driss accompanies Philippe on outings and drives his Maserati at high speeds, giving his boss an adrenaline rush. Their unlikely friendship helps both men to look at life from a new perspective.

The core of the film explores the developing relationship between two men - Philippe, isolated by his condition, and Driss, marginalized by society. Both long for freedom - Philippe from being bound to his wheelchair and Driss from poverty. As they get to know each other, their defenses come down and they find liberation in friendship. Though coming from vastly different worlds, they realize how much they have in common.

Director Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano craft a thoughtful story about connection across socioeconomic and cultural lines. They raise questions about social barriers and perspectives through entertaining situational comedy and characters discovering the humanity in one another. Sy and Cluzet have an excellent chemistry that makes the unlikely pairing believable and engaging.

At its heart, The Intouchables is about looking beyond surface judgments to find the person within. It explores profound themes of friendship, understanding, and overcoming adversity with charm and humanity. The film was a major box office hit in France and received international acclaim. Its universal story about unlikely friendship leading to personal growth resonated with global audiences. The Intouchables poignantly shows how human bonds can transcend social divisions.

The Intouchables is a 2011 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 53 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 8.5 and a MetaScore of 57.