Wild Reeds
| Wild Reeds | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster
|
|
| Directed by | André Téchiné |
| Produced by | Georges Benayoun Alain Sarde |
| Written by | Olivier Massart Gilles Taurand André Téchiné |
| Starring | Élodie Bouchez Gaël Morel Stéphane Rideau Frédéric Gorny |
| Cinematography | Jeanne Lapoirie |
| Edited by | Martine Giordano |
| Distributed by | Pan Européenne Distribution |
|
Release dates
|
<templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
|
|
Running time
|
110 minutes |
| Country | France |
| Language | French |
| Budget | €3.8 million |
Wild Reeds (French: Les Roseaux sauvages) is a 1994 French drama film directed by André Téchiné, about the sensitive passage in the adulthood and in awakening of sexuality by four youths at the end of the Algerian War. The film was selected as the French entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 67th Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee.[1]
Contents
Plot
The film is set in southwest France in 1962. François (Gaël Morel), a shy young man from the lower middle class, is working towards his high school diploma. He spends most of his time talking about movies and literature with his best friend, Maïté (Élodie Bouchez), whose mother Mme Alvarez (Michèle Moretti) is François's French teacher. Mme Alvarez and Maïté are communists. At the boarding school, François becomes acquainted with the sensual son of a farmer, Serge (Stéphane Rideau). At night, he joins François in the dormitory to chat. Finally, Serge draws François into an erotic relationship.
While Serge acted out of curiosity, François discovers his latent homosexuality and develops a deep attraction for Serge. He confides this discovery to Maïté, who swallows her disappointment to encourage him to come out of the closet. When Serge becomes increasingly interested in Maïté, she declares herself to be interested in nobody.
The Algerian War and its horrors crash headlong into these young friends. Serge's brother dies at the front, Maïté's mother suffers a nervous breakdown, having previously refused to help him desert.
Into this mix, an Algerian-born French exile, Henri (Frédéric Gorny), appears in the boarding school and aggravates all the conflicts. Supporting the OAS, he brings with him the traumas of the war. He cynically makes François face his homosexuality and provokes Serge's hatred. But it's especially the tempestuous meeting with Maïté who goes to destabilize the two of them, when the ideological confrontation collides with their mutual attraction.
In the contact of their differences, each of them learn, little by little, to qualify their judgments and their vision of life.
Cast
- Élodie Bouchez as Maïté Alvarez
- Gaël Morel as François Forestier
- Stéphane Rideau as Serge Bartolo
- Frédéric Gorny as Henri Mariani
- Michèle Moretti as Madame Alvarez
- Jacques Nolot as Monsieur Morelli
- Eric Kreikenmayer as Pierre Bartolo, the Groom
- Nathalie Vignes as Irène, the Bride
- Michel Ruhl as Monsieur Cassagne
- Fatia Maite as Aicha Morelli
Production
Conception
It was at first conceived to be a part of a television film series dealing the subject of adolescence, Tous les garçons et les filles de leurs âges, entitled Le chêne et le roseau (The Oak and the Reed), which made up the first 55 minutes of Wild Reeds. But after completing the script, Téchiné decided to make it a full theatrical release. Of autobiographical inspiration, it is his biggest personal success in France and also his most intimate film.
As the Algerian War is still, in a certain way, taboo on many points, films on the subject were rare or subject to debate: The Little Soldier (Le Petit Soldat), Avoir vingt ans dans les Aurès, La question.
Music
- Barbara Ann – Beach Boys
- Adagio for Strings – Samuel Barber
- Wo die Zitronen blühen & Frühlingsstimmen – Johann Strauss II
- Runaway – Del Shannon
- Let's Twist Again – Chubby Checker
- Smoke Gets in Your Eyes – The Platters
- Soave sia il vento (from Cosi Fan Tutte) - Mozart
Critical response
The film was met with widespread critical acclaim and holds a rare 100% "Fresh" ratings on Rotten Tomatoes.[2] It was released in the United States on May 10, 1995 grossing $38,192 in 7 theaters its widest release eventually grossing a total of $917,915 in North America.[3] In France the film received limited release playing at a total of 40 cinemas and opening in second place in the French box office gaining 37,688 admissions its opening weekend. In total the film had 589,301 admissions in France and was the 51st highest earning film of the year.[4]
Accolades
At the 1995 César Awards, Les Roseaux Sauvages won Best Film, Best Director (André Téchiné), Most Promising Young Actress (Élodie Bouchez) and Best Original Screenplay.
- César Awards (France)
- Won: Best Director (André Téchiné)
- Won: Best Film
- Won: Best Writing (Olivier Massart, Gilles Taurand and André Téchiné)
- Won: Most Promising Actress (Élodie Bouchez)
- Nominated: Best Actress – Best Supporting Role (Michèle Moretti)
- Nominated: Most Promising Actor (Frédéric Gorny)
- Nominated: Most Promising Actor (Gaël Morel)
- Nominated: Most Promising Actor (Stéphane Rideau)
- Un Certain Regard, Cannes Film Festival (France)
- Nominated[5]
- Los Angeles Film Critics (USA)
- Won: Best Foreign Language Film
- National Society of Film Critics (USA)
- Won: Best Foreign Language Film
- New York Film Critics (USA)
- Won: Best Foreign Language Film
- Won: Louis Delluc Prize
See also
- List of submissions to the 67th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film
- List of French submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
References
- ↑ Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
- ↑ http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/wild_reeds/
- ↑ http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1995/0WIRE.php
- ↑ http://www.jpbox-office.com/fichfilm.php?id=4292&affich=france&deplier=yes
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
