THE HEART EXPOSED (LE COUER DECOUVERT)

Canada, 1986, 107 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Jean-Yves? Laforce.

The Heart Exposed is an effective Canadian film focusing on homosexuality. It does so by way of drama, character interaction and discussion rather that anything sensational or being sexually explicit. The film focuses on a teacher, aged 39, his relationship with an aspiring actor. He has a five year old and the teacher is apprehensive about meeting the little boy - but on doing so he discovers strong parental instincts and becomes very attached to the boy. Other characters include the ex-wife and her friend, the mother of the young actor, a group of lesbian friends who live in the same apartment block as the teacher.

The drama evokes much more understanding and sympathy than a more polemic or aggressive presentation.

1. Interesting and entertaining human drama? Relationships? Sexuality?

2. Canadian production, Montreal locations and a sense of realism? The city?

3. The title, its relationship to the various characters and their relationships.

4. Understanding, sympathy, moral issue? Audience prepared to look at characters' lives and interactions, listen to their
experiences and hopes? The film offering some understanding of homosexuals and their relationships? Shared experiences, especially at the festival?

5. Love and support? interest? relationship and being mocked? The frank talking between the two? Jean-Marc's own experience, loneliness and longings? Mathieu and his background, explaining himself, his ambitions for learning, wasted time at school? The importance of his wife, the son? Jean-Marc's apprehensiveness, Sebastien coming, his demands, the meal, playing, the direct questions? joy? Jean-Marc? providing the toys? The outings? Jean-Marc? and his visits? The bond between the two, the effect on Jean-Marc? His worries, discussions, with Mathieu about being a parent? The women's support? Friendship with Louise? for the meal, the family meeting in his house? Meeting Rose, having her home, the effect on him? A frank discussion - and a future?

6. Mathieu, his background, home, drugs, marriage, son? Aspiring actor? Homosexuality? In the bar, with Jean-Marc?, falling in love with him, the shared experience? Film festival, dreading meeting the women, becoming friendly with them and used to them? His son, the strong relationship? With Louise and Gaston? Playing with his son, the outings with Jean-Marc? Auditions, the milk ad and his showing Sebastien? The meeting, love for his son, acceptance of his homosexuality, a future with Jean-Marc? The uncertainties?

7. Sebastien, relationship with his parents, living with his mother? Gaston, caps, childlike, the meals? Curiosity about his father and Jean-Marc?, the talking about mummies and daddies, at school? Talking with his mother and grandmother? Gaston and his concern, Gaston's brother and the suggestion about child abuse? His telling Jean-Marc? and Jean-Marc's enmity? The easiness in the home, in the bed, the bath, Comic, and her wanting to be frank with her son and help him grow up?

8. Louise, her relationship with Mathieu, the separation, with Gaston? attitudes, attitudes towards homosexuality, the discussions with Gaston, his trying to be understanding and tolerant, his intolerant brothers? The reunion with Rose and the love for each other?

9. Rose, relationship with Mathieu, not understanding, his trying to explain, not wanting to meet Jean-Marc?, meeting him, going home, getting to know him, the shared meal? Louise and Mathieu not re-uniting

10. Lute, the previous relationship with Jean-Marc?, friendship with Mathieu, the visits, warnings to Jean-Marc?

11. The sketch of the Lesbian women, their friendship, outings shared joy, curiosity, helping Jean-Marc? and Mathieu.

12. A naturalistic slice of life, life in contemporary cities, the frankness about relationships, changing patterns of relationships? A film offering understanding, and sympathy?