"WildReeds"" is one of the most honored of recent French films it won theCesar, France's equivalent of the Oscar, as the best film of 1994, defeating"Queen Margot" and "Red." I have a suspicion it resonatesmore deeply for the French than it can for us, because the period of theAlgerian war resonates in their emotions the way Vietnam would for us. He believes that if he asks the right questions,he can get the answers he needs. So, Francois goesdowntown and enters the store - for what? To ask the man what it means to begay, and how one goes about it? Probably, although Francois loses his nerve.But his impulse is revealing. He has known for some time that the man whoruns the shoe store in town is evidently a homosexual. WhenFrancois becomes convinced that he is gay, he reacts in a way that would seemstrange to an American teenager. They are thoughtful, theytalk earnestly, they feel deeply. Youngpeople in France often take intellectuals as their heroes, and Camus wasprobably more important to these kids than Elvis. And yet the movie isnot nostalgic in the way that, say, " American Graffiti" was. Theyare also, after all, teenagers, and the soundtrack of the movie is heavy withhit records of the period (even some by the Beach Boys). Director Andre Techine, who saysthe story is based on his own memories, wants to show his characters in themiddle of political and personal upheaval, and the character of the Communistteacher is important because she brings her feelings about the Algerian warinto the classroom, causing her students to question government policy at thesame time they question their own values. Serge, in fact, is attractedto Maite.ĪndFrancois is tormented by his feelings, staring in his mirror and callinghimself names.Īllof this perhaps sounds more steamy than it is. His secret is that he is attracted to Serge, a boarding school veteranwho thinks nothing of it when they do have sex, but is not homosexual anddoesn't want any deeper involvement with Francois. Maite is his best friend, but they keep at arm's length from eachother. He is a ped noir, an Algerian-born Frenchman, who hasfled with his family.įrancoisis uncertain of his sexuality, and his confusion is complicated byinexperience. Ask yourmother." The war, which seemed far away from the quiet provincial school,now seems closer, and it comes closer still with the arrival of a new student:Henri ( Frederic Gorny). ![]() Another of his closefriends is Serge ( Stephane Rideau), the younger brother of the dead soldier.Ītthe funeral, as Serge runs away, blinded by tears, Francois sends Maite afterhim: "Only you can help him." Maite says something awkward about thebrother's heroism, but Serge says bitterly, "He wanted to escape. ![]() Aboy named Francois ( Gael Morel) is her best friend. The teacher, Madame Alvarez ( Michele Moretti),has a daughter named Maite ( Elodie Bouchez) who is a student in the school. Thewedding has introduced many of the key players in the story, although at firstwe don't realize who they are.
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