* * * * *
Not sure why this movie hasn't gotten more note; David Jones recommended it to me, so I checked it out.
And loved it. Touched seeing on screen the frankness of so many parts of gay life I've been familiar with: cruising, younger/older, AIDS, gay/bi interface, gay (male)/straight (female), dealing with being gay, love...even the quotidian details involved with transporting the body. And like so many French films, this one deals so (refreshingly) frankly with sex, love and relationships. I know of no other national cinema that can look love so directly in the face and not blink.
Film is not only direct, but it leaves so much unexplained. Michel Blanc's fully-realized Adrian is touching, loving Manu
as a mentor but also desiring him, but the others are harder to see into. Mehdi totally loves Manu and Sarah, Manu loves Adrian as well as Mehdi, Sarah loves Mehdi, Adrian and her writing. And the movie explores none of this in an analytical way. In fact, Adrian moves on, Mehdi moves on, Sarah writes the movie and even Manu's sister Julie moves on.
All are touched by the episode with Manu and carry him with them, but their lives continue. Ironically, it's probably Sarah who most honors Manu.
The film observes all these relationships -- no interpretation, no analysis -- so we follow what we see: surface, in a keenly observed context. I'm impressed at Techine's way of portraying such intense, complicated relationships and think I'm going to watch more of his films.
Thanks, David!
Not sure why this movie hasn't gotten more note; David Jones recommended it to me, so I checked it out.
And loved it. Touched seeing on screen the frankness of so many parts of gay life I've been familiar with: cruising, younger/older, AIDS, gay/bi interface, gay (male)/straight (female), dealing with being gay, love...even the quotidian details involved with transporting the body. And like so many French films, this one deals so (refreshingly) frankly with sex, love and relationships. I know of no other national cinema that can look love so directly in the face and not blink.
Film is not only direct, but it leaves so much unexplained. Michel Blanc's fully-realized Adrian is touching, loving Manu
as a mentor but also desiring him, but the others are harder to see into. Mehdi totally loves Manu and Sarah, Manu loves Adrian as well as Mehdi, Sarah loves Mehdi, Adrian and her writing. And the movie explores none of this in an analytical way. In fact, Adrian moves on, Mehdi moves on, Sarah writes the movie and even Manu's sister Julie moves on.All are touched by the episode with Manu and carry him with them, but their lives continue. Ironically, it's probably Sarah who most honors Manu.
The film observes all these relationships -- no interpretation, no analysis -- so we follow what we see: surface, in a keenly observed context. I'm impressed at Techine's way of portraying such intense, complicated relationships and think I'm going to watch more of his films.
Thanks, David!
