'isn't the A320 in direct law at the flare?' Not quite. In landing mode pitch attitude is proportional to sidestick movement. Autotrim is inhibited. The attitude reference becomes progressively negative. Pitch ref at 50 ft is moved to -2 degrees from 30ft over 8 seconds. A backward force on the sidestick is necessary to keep the aircraft nose high for the flare. Clever or what?