Good start, but then it gets ruined

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

There's a more than satisfactory amount of boom-boom in the movie's trim running time.

Sam Lion (Jean Paul Belmondo) discovers he needs to take some time off as everybody around him relies to much on him and stages his own death. When he discovers those he loved ans still loves are in need, he gets Albert Duvivier (Richard Anconina) to help them. In search of his own past, of his own desires, this fabulous film by Claude Lelouch is a man's quest for himself at a ripe age.Built like all Lelouch films, the film's beginning with constant flashbacks may be puzzling, especially scenes where Paul Belmondo (who looks a huge lot like his father) is playing a young Sam Lion while Sam Lion stands in the same room - a flashback sequence which takes a second to grasp.One of Lelouch's most elaborate works, L'itineraire d'un infant gate is a must-see tale of self fulfilment.

Surely the best film directed by Claude Lelouch after "L'aventure c'est l'aventure". The Jacques Brel's life inspiration is really present. Richard Anconina and Jean-Paul Belmondo played a really amazing duo and are really great in the psychological discovery of the two characters they are playing.

One of the greatest stories of love and friendship and loneliness I have ever seen. Ever. The feel-good, cry a little, learn a lot movie. Outstanding photography, great dialogue, and so much heart. Someone said that Lelouch is forever making the same movie over and over again. Good! I don't care if I don't see another one.And what do you know -- a movie like this, a story of a super-successful, super-lovable, super-lonely man who decides to leave it all behind and lives vicariously through a poor young protege he crosses his paths with -- this story did not make it to the American screen and video?! I can hardly believe this. Someone give me the name of a person who decided to pass on this movie. Someone tell me how it is possible to release "Les Miserables" by Claude Lelouch starring Jean-Paul Belmondo and skip on an equally powerful, if not more so, "Itineraire..." which was made by the same two masters 7 years earlier?Anyone who has seen "Les Miserables", call your Senator and demand that this movie be released in the United States of A.Any foreign movie distributor who is reading this, grab this movie and you will have hit a mother lode.

The Claude Lelouch's movie is a pretty good moment of cinema. One of the most touching films about family and loneliness, and surely the best interpretation of French actor Jean-Paul Belmondo.