Old, tired, and frail Philippe Lanctot (Jean-Louis Roux) movies into an old folks home. The administrator says she wants him to be happy, but he's just waiting to die. Then Victor Laprade (Jacques Godin) enters his room unannounced and draws him out over the next few months. Despite their very different backgrounds, Victor teaches Philippe to experience and enjoy each precious moment, whether sipping the last drops of liquor from a flask, or delighting in merely spending a few moments together. In return, the well-heeled Philippe organizes field trips to dinner and to a botanical garden, and unknown to Victor, becomes the man's benefactor when Victor's children become stingy. The openly-gay Victor also pushes Philippe to acknowledge gay feelings he's always kept suppressed. They are a gay odd couple in the latter years of their lives. Victor is brash, garrulous, and intentionally oblivious to other people's personal boundaries. Philippe is dignified, repressed, closeted, and isolated. During their short-lived relationship each embraces the other lending their best qualities. The friendship that develops between the two is platonic, but Victor admits that if he'd met Philippe when he was younger, things might have turned out differently. The pace drags a bit towards the end, but the film doesn't overstay its welcome. There isn't a lot of action, but the dialogue is lively and the pair have wonderful chemistry. The title gives away the conclusion of the film. Adapted from Edward Phillips's novella "Matthew and Chauncyde", this French Canadian movie was written and directed by Anne-Claire Poirier. The alternative title is "Bye Bye Victor!".
