There’s a whole subgenre of comedy films that address both humor and sadness. Such as In Bruges, Sideways or even Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, if you like. I think those are the most rewarding “funny” films out there. They retain a certain bitterness at heart, thus making the light-hearted moments even brighter.
Real-life inspired fairytale The Intouchables, one of France’s biggest film exports of the past few years, was one of those heart-warming and touching comedies. It successfully treaded the fine line between slapstick humor and unadorned hard reality. And I think one of the main reasons it worked so well as a whole was Ludovico Einaudi’s melancholy score. Carefully compiled from the rich œuvre of this Italian composer, Einaudi’s music kept the film grounded in reality. And it turned The Intouchables into a film that speaks both the the head and to the heart.
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