LES NUITS FAUVES/SAVAGE NIGHTS
France, 1992, 126 minutes, Colour.
Cyril Collard, Romane Bohringer, Carlos Lopez, Corine Blue, Maria Schneider.
Directed by Cyril Collard.
This is a film which emerged at the end of the first decade of the AIDS epidemic, released in the early 1990s. It is very much the work of the writer-director, Cyril Collard, who had written a novel, adapted for the screen, composed music and songs for his film seeing them), directed and took the central role of Jean. He has a genial presence, engaging the audience.
The film was nominated for a number of Cesar awards, winning four. However, Collard, as his character in the film, was HIV positive and, in fact, died four days before the award ceremony. Which makes the film have even more impact, a sadly true story.
Jean works in the media, photographer, opening with scenes in Morocco. In Paris, he keeps in touch with his parents, his father having had a stroke. But he also indulges in quick sexual encounters in the underpasses and under the bridges in Paris. He visits the doctor and acknowledges the diagnosis, often cheerful, sometimes beginning to be overwhelmed.
He has some photos of a young woman, 17 years old turning 18, Laura, Romane Bohringer, who comes from audition, is attracted towards Jean, beginning a tempestuous (to say the least) sexual relationship, he impotent but in love with her.
Romane Bohringer gives an intense performance, love moving into obsession, bursting out of times in rage. Her mother tries to intervene, Laura ultimately having to agree to go to an institution for treatment after her incessant phone calls to Jean, stalking him, absolutely besotted.
In some ways, the story is inconclusive, Laura somewhat improving and able to be away from Jean, but Jean having to face the reality of his illness.
1. The An award-winning film of 1992? The director, AIDS, his novel, his film and performance – and his dying before he was able to receive his Cesar awards?
2. The background of the Moroccan settings, people, religious practice? The main action in France, Paris, apartments, restaurants, the streets, the dark bridges and underpasses, hospitals and institutions? The range of the musical score? Composed and performed by the director?
3. The film coming from the early 1990s, the 1980s experience of AIDS, epidemic, the number of deaths, fears from contamination by blood contact, the atmosphere of fear?
4. Jean’s story? Cyril Collard as writer and director, composer and singer of some songs, his performance, adaptation of his novel? His screen presence, vitality, verve in life, apprehensions about death, exploring relationships, wanting commitment? And the irony of his being ill and dying? The story and the performance made more authentic?
5. Jean and his story, his age, photography, the media? His friends and collaborators? Laura coming to the audition? His having her photos? Her performance, serious, passive, aggressive? Her success? The attraction towards Jean?
6. Jean and his background, the later visit to his parents, their concern, his father’s stroke, his mother and her loving care? You will, reckless and
his driving, the crash…?
7. Jean, his orientation, his behaviour, partners, HIV positive, visits to the hospital and nurses? His prospects? His behaviour with the men at the underpasses, his explanations about this kind of sex experience?
8. His friendship with Samy, visits to Samy and his family? Sammy and his attraction to Jean, living with Marianne? His wanting to please Jean? Affection? The issue of sexual contact? Samy and his going to the brothel, the man chained, punching him, the effect? The owner of the brothel and his card – and the final confrontation with Samy, in the streets, the bashing, Jean coming to the rescue, threatening the owner with blood contamination?
9. The portrait of Laura, age 17, wilful young woman, her relationship with her mother? The infatuation with Jean, the relationship, his impotence, yet his devotion to her? The dilemma about telling her the truth about HIV, his telling her, her reaction, demanding to be told, yet loving him, risking, the contraceptives?
10. Laura and her job in the store, arrange and outburst against the saleswoman and leaving?
11. The relationship, the outings together time together, declarations of love? Her becoming more obsessive, possessive? Her angry reactions with her mother? The phone calls, going away for a time, her stalking Jean? Her finding him with his former girlfriend after the night out, with Samy, the confrontation, the friend trying to console Laura?
12. His reactions, the need for some breathing space, yet his wanting to love her, the phone calls, ignoring them, going to see her? Discussions with her mother?
13. The eventual breakdown, the doctors, her frantic behaviour, smashing things, raging outbursts? Yet her eventually going to the institution, the analysis, the open ward?
14. Jean, facing death, attitude taught to death? Laura, her calming down, at the institution? The bonds between the two?
15. Her future? From her experience with Jean? His future, coming to terms with death?
