Description
Wild Reeds 1994
Les roseaux sauvages (original title)
1h 50min | Drama | 1 June 1994 (France)
8 wins & 6 nominations.
Storyline:
In a village in the Southwest of France, 1962. Maite and Francois are 18 years old. They are friends, not lovers. In Francois’s classroom, there are Serge, whose brother has just married to try to escape from the war in Algeria, and Henri, a pied-noir (Algerian-born Frenchman). Francois and Serge will have a homosexual relationship, but Serge wants to marry his brother’s wife…
User review:
On all fronts WILD REEDS is a top-notch drama – offering a look into the lives of 4 teenagers at a boarding school in rural France in the early 60s, this film is complex and immaculately well-made. Unusual in films depicting adolescence, WILD REEDS is complex and sophisticated, respectful of its’ characters’ varying sexualities (and their struggles to accept same), while also offering other glimpses of their intelligence and growing independence: views on the Algerian war, which was then raging, and on communism (with one character defined as communist, and another as an ardent anti-communist). The lush cinematography is summery and beautiful throughout, and the cast (most whom have gone on to other notable films) is great throughout.
Techine’s direction gives the many strands of this story a great, personal feel – the shoe store scene stands out as an honest depiction of an individual recognizing and trying to accept his sexuality, and attempting to identify other gay people, as a way of lessening isolation, and in an attempt at spontaneously finding some sort of role model. Very thoughtful and very well-made.
Director: André Téchiné
Writers: Olivier Massart, Gilles Taurand
Stars: Élodie Bouchez, Gaël Morel, Stéphane Rideau
Oliver Deutsch (verified owner) –
Mr John (verified owner) –
A masterpiece. Andre Techine is an outstanding director and his exploration of diversity in adolescent longings and their impact on a group of friends is a pleasure to watch from start to finish. As good as it gets.