Although the real-life 'Driss' was a young Algerian man called Abdel, directors Éric Toledano and Olivier Nakache changed the character's nationality to Senegalese, as they had enjoyed working with Omar Sy on Tellement proches (2009), and really wanted him to play the part.

Is Driss an immigrant?

The Intouchables tells the story of a young Senegalese immigrant named Driss, who has been hired to be the caretaker of Philippe, a rich tetraplegic.

How are Driss and Philippe different?

Driss grew up in the projects and had a different lifestyle than Philippe who comes from a family of wealthy aristocrats. Despite their differences in background Philippe welcomes Driss into his home and trusts him to follow his rules and provide the best possible care to Driss.

Who is Driss based on?

The Driss character is based on Abdel Sellou, an Algerian, who wrote a memoir of his own, prefaced by Pozzo di Borgo. The desolation and dreariness of Driss's urban ghetto stands in jarring contrast to the wealth and sophistication of Philippe's world.

Why did Philippe choose Driss as his caretaker?

He says: "I think it's a very human story, and it's funny and touching … Philippe chooses Driss as his caretaker partly because he doesn't see him as disabled or pity him. He just sees another person."

The difference between the real story and the film "The Intouchables" The story

What do Philippe and Driss have in common?

Both men are seen as outsiders, not normal, untouchable as the title says. Philippe is an untouchable because of his physical disability and Driss is an untouchable because of his socioeconomic disability. Although they are very different, they are the same. It is this that binds them together in their odd friendship.

Where does Driss live in The Intouchables?

Driss goes back to the tiny flat that he shares with his extended family in a bleak Parisian suburb. His aunt, exasperated from not hearing from him for six months, orders him to leave the flat.

How much of The Intouchables is true?

The plot of the film is inspired by the true story of Philippe Pozzo di Borgo and his French-Algerian caregiver Abdel Sellou, discovered by the directors in À la vie, à la mort, a documentary film.

What is the disability in The Intouchables?

The movie “The Intouchables”, a film directed by French screenwriters Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano, is based on a touching true story of a wealthy business man living with quadriplegia and his unorthodox caregiver, Driss.

Why is The Intouchables so popular?

And rather than try to revive the New Wave or emulate Hollywood like most widely seen French films of late, "Intouchables" harnesses its core strengths - ease with intimacy, willingness to ridicule anything and brutal honesty - and delivers one of the funniest, most honest and touching films I have ever seen.

Are there two versions of The Intouchables?

The Upside is a 2017 American comedy-drama film directed by Neil Burger, written by Jon Hartmere. It is a remake of the French 2011 film The Intouchables, which was itself inspired by the lives of Abdel Sallou and Philippe Pozzo di Borgo.

What is the message in the movie The Intouchables?

Its messages about the healing power of hope, friendship and humor and learning to see the possibilities, not the limitations, bear repeating in any language. In French with English subtitles.

Are Philippe and Abdel still friends?

At the end of the film, we see the real millionaire and his assistant. They are still friends, even though they don't see each other as often as they used to. The men left France: Abdel returned to Algeria where he opened a bird farm, and Philippe moved to Morocco.

Is Untouchable the movie based on a true story?

The Untouchables is a 1987 American crime film directed by Brian De Palma, produced by Art Linson, and written by David Mamet. The film is loosely based on the book of the same name (1957) and the real-life events it was based on, but most of its plot is fictionalized.

Who is Elisa in The Intouchables?

Alba Gaïa Bellugi: Elisa.

Who is the real Driss in the intouchables?

Although the real-life 'Driss' was a young Algerian man called Abdel, directors Éric Toledano and Olivier Nakache changed the character's nationality to Senegalese, as they had enjoyed working with Omar Sy on Tellement proches (2009), and really wanted him to play the part.

Why did they remake the intouchables?

The success of the Intouchables

The Intouchables was the top-grossing foreign film in North America in 2012, the year it was released grossing a whopping $7.11 million in the US & Canada. To this day it's the most profitable movie in the French movie industry. No wonder Hollywood decided to make their own version.

Did they actually paraglide in the intouchables?

Paragliding like in the movie 'Intouchables'

Guess what, you can have the exact same experience. This part of the movie was shot at 'our' mountain. On the top 'our' Mont Bisanne you can start of your paragliding adventure. The paragliding experts of Les Volatiles in Les Saisies participated in the movie 'Intouchables'.

What does Driss steal from Philippe?

In particular, Driss steals a Faberge egg from Philippe at the beginning of the movie, not knowing its worth. He denies it, but eventually returns the egg when he realizes its importance to Philippe. By bringing the egg back, Driss shows his emotional maturity and that he has changed through their friendship.

What is the meaning of the word intouchables?

British English: untouchable ADJECTIVE /ʌnˈtʌtʃəbl/ If you say that someone is untouchable, you mean that they cannot be affected or punished in any way.

What did Driss learn from Philippe?

Driss, on the other hand, learns from Philippe to look after the people he cares about the most, his family and friends. He starts to appreciate the finer details in life and create an ambition to do better for himself and his family. Both their lives becomes brighter and clearer as they travel their journey together.

What happened to Philippe in Intouchables?

Philippe di Borgo became a quadriplegic in 1993 following a paragliding accident. Because of his disability, he attempted to commit suicide by wrapping an oxygen tube around his neck. In July 2012, he was appointed a Knight of the Legion of Honour. Pozzo di Borgo died on 1 June 2023, at the age of 72.

Is the intouchables for kids?

Know your kid. There are about 10 uses of the f-word (in subtitles), very infequent. This movie goes a thin line between PG-13 and R. If there was no language, it was PG-13 for drug abuse and some mild sex references.

What is Philippe's last name in the intouchables?

Philippe Pozzo di Borgo, the scion of an aristocratic Corsican family, was badly injured in a paragliding accident in 1993 and lost the use of all four limbs.