Yes, at intermediate level, and mainly because it puts two kinds of French in one room. The contrast between banlieue slang and a wealthy Parisian's polished speech teaches you register in a way few single films can.
- Level
- Intermediate
- Format
- Film
- Year
- 2011
- Length
- about 112 min
Why it works for learners
The odd-couple setup does the teaching. One man speaks in careful, educated sentences, the other in quick, informal street French, and each reacts to how the other talks. You hear formal and casual ways of saying similar things in the same scene. At 112 minutes it is a manageable single sitting, and the daily care routine gives you repeated, concrete vocabulary about the body, the home and getting around.
What makes it hard
The carer's lines are the challenge: dropped sounds, slang and fast comic timing, with jokes that depend on knowing what is rude and what is not. Some banlieue words will not appear in your textbook, and not all are safe to repeat.
How to use it
Watch once for the story, then replay the job interview and other early scenes between the two men. Write down one formal and one casual way of saying the same thing. Copy the polite speaker first, and treat the slang as listening practice.
More for French learners: our French guides.
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