Details
Movie Description
A small boarding school in the south of France is the setting for WILD REEDS, where four friends come of age in 1962. As the Algerian war rages in Northern Africa, Francois faces his homosexuality after an encounter with Serge, who is facing his own crisis, having lost a brother to the war. Mäité fights off a confusing attraction to ultraconservative Henri, despite her communist upbringing. Small-town friendships are used as compelling metaphors against the larger backdrop of 1960s idealism and political unrest. The personal becomes the political as Francois, Mäité, Serge, and Henri come to realize their identities and cherish their friendships.
Synopsis
Set in 1962, this acclaimed drama chronicles the emotional and sexual awakenings of four French teenagers whose passage into adulthood is complicated by conflicting desires, political turmoil, and an uncertain future. Set in the dazzling and sun-drenched countryside of southwestern France, the film follows the four teenagers as they face the struggles and responsibilities of adulthood. Francois confronts his homosexuality after a brief encounter reinforces a teenage crush on classmate Serge. Serge, the son of local peasant farmers, is confounded when his older brother (who at the outset of the film had attempted to desert) is killed in the war, and he must capitulate to familial responsibilities. Maïté, the daughter of the school's politically active communist teacher, Mrs. Alvarez, struggles in her friendship with Francois, her attraction to Algerian-born ultraconservative Henri, and her mother's nervous breakdown. Henri, whose father was killed in the war and whose mother lives in hiding in Marseilles, nearly flunks out of school, clinging to the short-wave radio that brings news from Algeria. The four converge as they await their final grades, and the conflicting powers of class, sexuality, and love are played out as unlikely friendships are forged and childhood innocence is replaced by encroaching adulthood.
Film Notes
DVD Features:
Region 0
Interactive Menu
Production Notes
Biographies
Scene Access
Theatrical Trailer
Released theatrically in New York City June 30, 1995.
Played at the 32nd New York Film Festival October 7 & 8, 1994.
The Los Angeles Film Critics Association voted it Best Foreign Film of 1995.
The film was originally planned as part of the series "Tous les garcons et les filles de leur âge" for the Franco-German Television station ATE. The series was made up of movies based on French filmmakers' memories of their childhoods. In addition to Téchiné, other French directors asked to make films for the series included Patricia Mazuy, Cedric Kahn, and Olivier Assayas.
Industry Reviews
"...[A] delicate, lovingly photographed, strongly acted coming-of-age story..."
James
"...Techine is one of the smoothest, most technically graceful film directors....WILD REEDS is very much an ensemble piece, introducing a whole new generation of acting talent to the screen in one fell swoop..."
Film Comment - Phillip Lopate (11/01/1994)
"...An unexpectedly satisfying experience....The film perfectly understands the tentative experimentation and frequent self-loathing of adolescence..."
Los Angeles Times - Kenneth Turan (05/10/1995)
"...The emotional center of the film is touching and honest..."
Chicago Sun-Times - Roger Ebert (07/21/1995)
|
)
)
)
All rights reserved.
