UN POISON VIOLENT/ LOVE LIKE POISON

France, 2010
Clara Augarde, Lio, Michel Galabru

Director:Katell Quillévéré

Un Poison Violent is a story of a 14 year old girl, Anne (Clara Augarde) who is about to be confirmed in the local church. She is precocious, lives with her mother and her father’s father, an old rogue, who is dying. Her father is estranged. She is attracted by a local boy and begins to explore her sexuality.

The film gives attention to Anne’s mother and her bitterness in living in her husband’s house, caring for her father-in-law and dealing with her daughter. She is also infatuated with the local parish priest, Francois, whom she has known since he was sixteen and migrated from Italy.

The film also offers quite a telling picture of Francois, his sense of vocation since he was a boy, his work in the parish, with the sick, playing soccer with the schoolboys, trekking with Anne in the hills, his own personal struggles, especially the implications for celibacy, as well as his carrying out the rituals of the church. He tries to deal with the approaches of Anne’s mother.

While the film has a great deal of detail of the lives of its protagonists, it leaves the audience wondering what will happen next.

The director was born in the Ivory Coast.

1. A French story? A contemporary story? A Catholic story? Universal?

2. The picture of the town, the detail? Homes? The church? Outings, trekking, playing soccer? Ceremonies, Mass, the funeral, the confirmation? The sea and the beach? A sense of reality? The musical score? The sacred hymns?

3. The title, poison for whom? Poisonous love, for whom?

4. The opening, the church, the choir, the large congregation, the celebration of the Mass, Francois as the celebrant, distribution of communion, Anne and her looking at Peeta? The continued focus on Francois?

5. The focus on Anne, 14 years old, the preparation for confirmation, her religious questions, asking her mother, Peeta, Francois? His comments on doubts and Mother Teresa? Living with doubts? Anne and her sexual development, the provocation of her grandfather, comparisons with her mother, the encounters with Peeta, the kiss, exposure, the discussions? With her mother, asking her personal questions, clashes? In the house, the tensions? The absent father, her phoning him? At boarding school? The effect on her? Transition in her life? Fainting at the funeral, fainting at the confirmation after not pronouncing her faith? Her reliance on Francois, and her mother, the visits to her grandfather, sharing with him, exposing in herself, his death? The discussions with Francois, and the open ending?

6. Anne’s mother, her experience, her memories of love with her husband? The dinner, the discussion about living in the house, her being upset? Her angers, having to care for her father-in-law? Care for and? The discussions with house wire, known him since he was 16, telling Anne about him? The discussions, her infatuation, wanting to go to confession, his telling her to come at the regular time, coming for counseling, asleep, his coach, his being a substitute for her, her needs?

7. The grandfather, his attitude towards his son? His love for Anne? His meals and his room, staying in bed, the talks, playing the record’s, the sexual emphasis, talks with his son, the sexual emphasis with him? Anne and the suggestiveness, her exposure? His death?

8. Anne’s father, his love for her, leaving his wife, his discussions with his father, his uncertainties, the other woman in his life, at the beach with his daughter, the bonds with her, the funeral? Anne’s song, poem for her grandfather? The sexual overtones?

9. The picture of the French family, dysfunctional?

10. Francois, the other priests, comfortable in his vocation?

11. The portrait of Francois, his story, Italy, migrating at 16, his explanation of his sense of vocation? Since he was a boy? His dedication? His work in the parish, his kindness, going to visit the grandfather and his being ousted with the world war one song, trekking with Anne and discussing religious matters with her, playing soccer with the boys, the ceremonies, Mass, the funeral? Anne’s mother, turning up to the house, wanting to go to confession, his putting her off? The glimpse of him on his bed at night, struggle, torment? The mother coming, falling asleep on the couch? His sense of dedication? The confirmation ceremony? Future?

12. The confirmation ceremony, the bishop reading from the letter to the Galatians? The emphasis on sinning, sexuality, the complimentary virtues? Anne and her reaction?

13. The film stopping rather than ending date, audience interest in what would happen to the characters?