PRESQUE RIEN
France, 2000, 95 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Sebastien Lihfschitz.
Presque Rien was written by Sebastian Lihfschitz, the director. He went on to make The Crossing, an interesting portrait of a young man from Paris going to America to find his American father. The Crossing also had themes of sexual orientation, especially homosexual orientation.
Presque Rien is much more explicit in its presentation of a young man and his growing sexual awareness. It focuses on Mathieu on holidays on the coast of Brittany, his experience of his ailing mother, his willingness and unwillingness to care for her along with his sister and the woman who actually does all the work for his mother. He meets Cedric, a young man from the town, they begin a friendship which moves into an intense sexual relationship and Mathieu's experience of love. The film is open and frank in its presentation of this relationship as well as presenting criticisms from his sister and Annick, the woman looking after their mother. His mother and Cedric's father are far more open and sympathetic.
The film is very French in its presentation of the relationships and intensity, the experience of joy but with an underlying theme of potential gloom and despair which culminates in Mathieu's attempted suicide. The film is open-ended as to what will happen with himself, his studies, his relationship with his family, his past relations with Cedric, further relationships and his sense of identity, love and fulfilment.
1. Impact of the film, its appeal, to a wide audience, to a gay audience?
2. The settings, the coastal town, the holiday atmosphere? The contrast with the train ride, the institution? Musical score?
3. The structure of the film: the present and Mathieu's trip, the return, his memories of the institution, the psychiatrist, having to cope? The past, the visit to the family, the summer holiday, the encounter with Cedric, the lyricism, the aftermath? The future and his relationship with Cedric, ending it, the visit to Pierre and the discussion?
4. The portrait of Mathieu, the present and his suicide attempt, his time in the institution, not wanting to eat, reluctance to talk to the psychiatrist, his talking with her, the memories, the perspective on Cedric, the summer holiday? His talking with Pierre? The bonds between the two? His future in terms of himself, relationships, studies? The past and the holiday, his relationship with his mother, her constant illness, his absent father and the communication with him? His sister, the rivalry, love, friendship, clashes? With Annick and her presence in the household, her criticisms of him, her looking after his mother? His age, self-absorption? His going to the beach, languid, his room, not wanting to help with his mother? The discussions with her? His previous heterosexual experience? On the beach, noticing Cedric, the discussions with him, the bond between the two, the shared experiences, the sexual experiences? The reaction of the family? His being out? His mother and the discussion about his orientation? With his sister and her criticisms, with Annick and her observations of what hat happened? The freedom with Cedric? The incident with the cave, the accident, the hospital, the discussion with Cedric's father? The future, Cedric and his going for training, Mathieu and his changing venue for his studies? The arguments about his decision? The elliptical nature of the film in not giving particular reasons for his suicide attempt?
5. Cedric, his age, place in the town, his work in the café, his experience, acting for a while as a prostitute? On the beach, his seeing Mathieu, approaching him, the friendship, the activities together, the enjoyment of the holiday? The sexual encounter? The accident and the aftermath? The discussions about his father, work, studies?
6. The portrait of the family, the mother and her illness, her not wanting to be ill, her bond with her son? Jane, her age, experience, jealousies, suspicions? Her self-centredness? Annick, her role in the household, selfless, cooking the meals, caring for the mother, criticising Jane and Mathieu? The absent father?
7. The issue of relationships, love, sexual orientation, discovery of sexual orientation? A sympathetic portrait of Mathieu and his age, experiences, building towards a future despite the suicide attempt?
