Le Prenom (What's In a Name?) and the Philosophy of Names

[Spoiler alert.]

Le Prenom was this year’s opener for the 18th French Film Festival held at Greenbelt 3 in Makati. The film revolves around a dinner invitation by Elisabeth to her brother Vincent, who is expecting a baby boy. Everyone is in high spirits trying to guess the name of the baby until Vincent reveals the name is going to be Adolphe. Chaos ensues after the announcement. Bickering brings forth shocking revelations in their lives.

But what’s in Adolphe that had caused such a pandemonium?

Pierre contends that the name Adolphe is offensive as it alludes to the name of Adolf Hitler. Vincent and Elisabeth’s mother is a Jew, and Pierre cannot fathom the fact that Vincent will name his boy after the fascist ruler.

On the other hand, Vincent argues that the name Adolf was not what made Hitler a fascist ruler. He could have been named Pepito, and still be the same person the Nazis would have hailed with “Heil, Pepito!” Vincent also reckons that he can name his son as he pleases being that he is the father. After all, Adolphe is not the same as Adolf.

The Great Reveal and more

Just as when Vincent seems to be bucking down, he announces that he will name his son Adolf instead, and his son will change the image Hitler had caused to the name Adolf. Towards the middle of the film however, when hostility has reigned over the five friends, Vincent confesses that they did not intend to name their child Adolphe/Adolf, but Henri, after the boy’s grandfather. Needless to say, his self-serving joke did not sit well with the others. Chaos continues as they reveal the monickers for Vincent, Pierre and Claude. A devastating secret is almost revealed; Claude gets himself knocked on the center table; and the night ends with Elisabeth’s tirade on her life.

What’s In a Name?

Our name provides us an identity, a reference to our persona. When we hear the name Andrea, we think of the last Andrea we know, or the Andrea that have made a stronger impact on us. Otherwise, Andrea is no more than a girl’s name to us. The name Cassandra, Felix or Gertrude will have images of a person only if we have known any Cassandra, Felix or Gertrude. Thus, we breathe life and give meaning to names.

However in the course of time, some names survive longer than the person, and the identity it was referenced to still commands the reputation it built. Such is true in the cases of Adolf, Benito, Saddam or Polpot, whose names have become synonymous to tyranny and atrocity. The lives they lived (or the lives they killed) bring significance (or insignificance) to their names, so much so that their first names evoke feelings of hatred and animosity from some people.

Le Prenom

I enjoyed the movie tremendously. Apart from the characterizations that were played out very well, the arguments thrown by Pierre and Vincent elicits a rich discourse on the philosophy of names. It raises fundamental questions on how parents should or should not name their child.  It shows how religion, history, literature, values and tradition affect our choice of names. Also, the film brilliantly did not try to reconcile the tug-of-war between Vincent and Pierre for after all, both parties have valid arguments. Above all, the film shows how human sentimentality can complicate the association we make with names and persona, whether it is the first name or just a monicker. The film does not give us answers to what's in a name, but it does challenge us to reflect how blessing a child with a name mirrors much of who and what we are. 

For me, Le Prenom is a magnificent journey on the philosophy of names.