Bonjour Timothy

A comedy about Timothy, a teenager who falls head over heels for the pretty French-Canadian exchange student his family is hosting. Unfortunately, his attentions are not reciprocated.

Bonjour Timothy, New Zealand / Canada, 1995

Tucker Films / Cinar Productions
Director: Wayne Tourell
Producers: Murray Newey, Micheline Charest
Co-producers: Judith Trye, Patricia Lavoie
Executive producers: Anthony I. Ginnane, Ronald A. Weinberg
Writer: David Preston
Editor: Jean-Marie Drot
Production manager: Brian Walden
Director of photography: Matt Bowkett
Camera operator: Mike Fuller
Production designer: Brett Schwieters
Composer: Daniel Scott
Sound design: Raymond Vermette
Story: David Parry

With: Dean O’Gorman (Timothy), Sabine Karsenti (Michelle), Sylvia Rands (Mary), Sydney Jackson (Roger), Milan Borich (Nathan), Angela Bloomfield (Vikki), Richard Vette (Derek), Raewyn Blade (Mrs Braithwaite), Mark Hadlow (Rugby coach), Nathaniel Lees (Mr Wiley), Stephen Papps (Mr Blisker)

35mm, 97 minutes, G

A New Zealand comedy about Timothy, a teenager who falls head over heels for the pretty French-Canadian exchange student his family is hosting. Unfortunately, Timothy’s attentions are not reciprocated.

“It's a long time since I’ve seen a movie that gives as much sweet-tempered, innocent fun as Wayne Tourell’s Bonjour Timothy. And, because it’s a New Zealand-Canadian co-production, it has to rate as our local industry’s most good-natured comedy yet. Publicity calls it a “contemporary coming-of-age love story”. Under protest, Auckland teenager Timothy agrees to billet a French exchange student. Expecting a boy, Tim discovers at the airport that his guest is a gorgeous Quebecoise girl, Michelle. Naturally, Timothy falls in love at once and spends the rest of the film dancing around Michelle trying to prove himself. No. David Parry’s screenplay is not the most original concept in the world. Jangling bells in my memory recalled a movie from the early 80s, Bill Forsyth’s Scottish comedy Gregory’s Girl, which had a very similar premise: awkward, gawky, almost nerdish boy tries to impress beautiful girl; through trial and error, boy learns that the best way to impress is by being himself. Thus too in Bonjour Timothy. But between them, Parry and Tourell have given the familiar tale a rich New Zealand flavour. Tim’s mum flutters round cooking. Tim’s dad swills beer while watching the All Blacks on the box and shouts “Yew bewdy!” when they score a try. At Avondale College, Tim’s classmates divide into nerds like himself and intimidating jocks like the awful Derek. Auckland’s hinterland comes on like a tourist brochure, and some of the movie’s high points are Every Boy’s Daydream. So who wouldn’t like to score the winning try, in slow motion, while the cheerleaders cheer? And who wouldn’t like to instruct a beautiful French girl in Southern astronomy under a star-drenched sky? I didn’t say it was subtle, but then subtlety isn’t the point — certainly not in a movie where Timothy’s idea of “acting French” means donning beret and striped T-shirt while sucking on a Gauloise. What is the point, when all the pawky humour is admitted, is a very close approximation to how teenagers see themselves. Dean O’Gorman’s self-conscious, jerky, apologetic and eager—to—please Timothy is nearer to most teenage boys’ idea of them selves than the celluloid heroes they usually ogle. With its intended audience of younger teenagers, Bonjour Timothy should really hit the button. I understand a sequel, Gidday Michelle (Timothy visits Montreal) is already in production.” — Nicholas Reid, North & South, February 1996

"Bonjour Timothy is a light, teen-oriented comedy of schoolboy frolics and innocent romance that relies heavily on the charm of its leading man. Dean O'Gorman, whose previous work includes guest roles on television's Hercules and Xena:Warrior Princess, as well as a sustaining part on the New Zealand soap Shortland Street, plays the clumsy yet appealing teenager, Timothy Taylor, to the hilt. His bouncy personality combined with a confident handling of the many unlikely situations in which his character is placed make O'Gorman a good choice for the lead in this award-winning film. As the object of most of his attention, Sabine Karsenti as Michelle seems well-suited in the difficult role as the reluctant exchange student. Of the other teens, Milan Borich as the nerdy best friend and Richard Vette as the rugby jock give fine performances. As with most teen flicks, the adults are less successful with most of them resorting to over-acting turns for the comedy." — Peter Cowan, Radio 2GB/2RES-FM

“Okay, we’re not talking Shakespeare here; the story is fluff, but it is enjoyable fluff, executed with a light touch by director Wayne Tourell. Another stab in the heart to Sam Neill’s gloomy Cinema of Unease thesis? [...] One of the strongest features of the production is its use of Kiwi music in the soundtrack. Thankfully, in contrast to many sonically hyped teen movies, songs by the likes of Dave Dobbyn, the Fan Club, and Headless Chickens are used to complement the drama, not replace it” — Costa Botes, “Detours on road to true love”, The Dominion, January 26, 1996

Screening: Bonjour Timothy screened on 14 May 2008 as part of the Features for Kids Season.