Salut Victor! (Canadian French) [Bye Bye Victor]

There haven’t been many films about aging gay men, so it’s always nice to see one that tries to tackle the subject in some capacity. This film is less about love and more about what can happen to certain gay men in the prime of their lives when their families no longer want them and they are deeply lonely. Friendship and love/admiration can bring a spark into your life at any time. The friendship between two old men becomes love in its own way.
Slightly unkempt, exhausted, and frail, Philippe Lanctot moves into an old age home. He is single, and apparently his younger sister used to care for him, but after his death, he is almost forced into this community. He is unhappy about it and nearly grumpy. The staff tries to lift his spirits, but it feels as though he has already given up on life. Then a man named Victor suddenly arrives in his room in a wheelchair. He is brash, talks constantly, has no concept of personal space or boundaries, and is a real chatty Kathy. Philippe initially finds him very annoying, but soon begins warming to him, and the two develop a strong friendship in which Victor shows Philippe that being around other people is not so bad. Victor gives Philippe the gift of living in the moment. In return, the well-heeled Philippe arranges outings for dinner and to a botanical garden and, without Victor knowing, becomes his benefactor when Victor’s children get stingy. During one heartfelt conversation, Victor explains that he was married before realizing he was gay, and he keeps going on about touching the staff’s junk. He also gets Philippe to come out, since Philippe had always been in the closet and never had the courage to tell anyone. Victor pushes Philippe to recognize feelings he has always kept buried. The ending is a little sad because, just as Philippe begins to feel some love in the final days of his life, Victor falls ill and dies. 
From a screenplay standpoint, there really is not all that much happening in this film, but you do watch the two men gradually form a bond. Victor teaches Philippe that life can be enjoyed through small things, and Philippe appreciates that; he finally discovers the meaning of love. With such contrasting personalities, they really do become an odd gay couple in the later years of their lives. Set in the late 80s, it shows how people in general, including these two, enjoy life’s small pleasures, like sipping the last drops of liquor from a flask or simply delighting in spending a few moments together. A real friendship and love that eventually blossoms, and life happens – again!! The acting from the two main leads is quite good, and neither ever goes overboard. IT is an emotional film which, sadly, I feel may not connect as much with the current generation, but it is a loving celebration of the human spirit, which hopefully will never die. (5/10)