Gael Morel
France 2004 90min French o.v. English s-t.

Gaël Morel (Toute vitesse) continues his erotically-charged exploration of adolescent angst and sexuality reminiscent of Andre Techine’s Wild Reeds. A corrosive combination of loss, petty crime and poverty threatens three brothers and their ambiguous and fragile relationships with each other, as they stumble towards adulthood. Christophe (Stéphane Rideau), Marc (Nicolas Cazalé) and Olivier (newcomer Thomas Dumerchez) lose their mother to cancer – and their father to crippling grief. Adrift in pain, Marc’s petty drug transactions make him the target of local thugs. After Christophe’s anticipated but anti-climatic release from prison, Marc is disillusioned by Christophe’s choice of dreary but stable employment at the local meat-packing plant. Olivier, alienated by Christophe’s indifference and a lightning rod for Marc’s frustration, eases himself into a fragile but passionate relationship with Marc’s friend Hicham (the arresting Salim Kechiouche). Different masculine stereotypes compete with each other as Le Clan compels us to question and redefine the meaning of love and redemption. Echoing Coppola’s Rumblefish and Fassbinder’s In a Year with Thirteen Moons, Morel’s elliptical narrative swirls around sensitive performances by his stunning and talented cast. – BF

Shown on:

friday, november 04, 9H30 PM parisien 6 - pgm05 (Du même sang + Le clan)

saturday, november 05, 9H00 PM parisien 2 - pgm15 (Du même sang + Le clan)

tuesday, november 08, 9H30 PM parisien 2 - pgm41 (Du même sang + Le clan)