C’est Pas Moi, Je le Jure! (It’s Not Me, I Swear!) (Philippe Faladreau, 2008): Canada

Reviewed by Collier Grimm. Viewed at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

10-year-old Leon is hopelessly suicidal. Although his parents continually play his attempts at death off as accidents, Leon is truly looking forward to escaping his dead end life in ticky-tacky-house suburbia.

Leon is bored with school, his parents are on the brink of divorce, and his older brother rejects Leon’s eccentric/suicidal personality- “why can’t you just be normal”. It is the summer of ’68, and the Canadian backdrop director Philippe Faraday has chosen for the film looks a lot like summer in the Midwest. Leon’s only sanctuary is in the middle of a cornfield behind his home.

As all of the “happy” neighborhood families leave for holiday, Leon, equipped with binoculars and a fancy scarf covering scars from a recent attempt at death by hanging, begins terrorizing the neighborhood. Throwing eggs at the witch’s house on the corner, flipping the middle finger as often as possible, and breaking into the homes of his out-of-town neighbors. Not only does Leon play with all the toys he longs for, he also relieves himself on a closet full of furs, breaks an antique harpsichord, destroys white shag carpet, shatters a sliding glass door, and steals lots and lots of money.

When Leon discovers the meaning of the word “alibi” from the neighborhood girl he has befriended, his world changes. He concocts elaborate lies, like singing all day at the local “old folks” home, to avoid being a suspect in the neighborhood plague. Leon, and his new sidekick Lea, get into as much trouble as possible in sheltered suburbia. The plot is quite simple, Leon hates girl, Leon loves girl, and Leon looses girl- but finds acceptance in himself. However, Falardeay has found a touching way to reveal the comedy in our daily tragedy and pain. Although the film is bursting with laughs, Leon’s family is faced with the everyday struggles that really hit home.

The director, cinematographer, editor, and production company have worked together on several other small films, and C’est Pas Moi, Je le Jure! certainly feels like a family affair. The mis en scene is fantastic, the décor in each home will have you thanking modern design, and the costumes add to the dated feeling of the film and Leon’s quirky demeanor. Of course sound effects play a special role in the film, Leon’s every attempt at death is accompanied by bone-crunching, stomach-churning, sounds.

I counted a total of four suicide attempts by Leon, one fire started on his parents duvet that he happily discovers is not fire-retardant, several moments of looting, and non-stop laughter from a very happy audience. Altogether Leon takes a crack at death by alcoholism, stabbing, hanging, throwing himself off a bridge, and placing his head in front of a fast moving bowling ball. This film was endearing, unique, and one of the most morbidly funny films I’ve seen in a long time. I’m dying for a repeat viewing of C’est Pas Moi, Je le Jure!