(2000)
3.5
Brian J. Dillard
The gay coming-of-age story seems to have an unshakable hold on the imaginations of novelists and filmmakers the world over, but this picturesque French effort doesn't add too much to the already well-defined genre except a mood of sun-dappled sensuality, a dose of inarticulate angst, and a formal playfulness that isn't as well-executed as it could be. The film's script, by director Sebastien Lifschitz and his writing partner Stephane Bouquet, attempts to mirror protagonist Mathieu's sexual and emotional confusion by leaving important plot points implied but not shown. The editing, by Yann Dedet, also jumps around indiscriminately in time, further jumbling the emotional development of the protagonists. These experimental efforts are admirable, but the results may leave audience members scratching their heads instead of honing in on the characters' inner lives. That said, Jeremie Elkaim brings an almost aristocratic self-possession to the role of the emotionally walled-off Mathieu, while Stephane Rideau -- an up-and-coming alt-French sex symbol -- imbues Cedric with an unself-conscious masculinity and a playful sense of self-deprecation that are as disarming as they are rare in this genre. One particularly effective torrid beachside love scene between the young men subverts stereotypes about active and passive gay sexual roles; in fact, the unself-consciousness with which these characters jump into bed -- and love -- with one another is refreshing given the politically correct hand wringing of many such films. Too often, however, the emotional drama of Presque Rien seems like a mere backdrop to the endless scenes of Mathieu and Cedric half-naked. Lifschitz and cinematographer Pascal Poucet know how to frame both landscapes and lithe young bodies beautifully, but ultimately the elliptical plot and beefcake trappings sabotage the film's emotional authority. Partially a sexy postcard book, partially an excavation of brooding adolescent fervor, Presque Rien dazzles the eyes even while it frustrates the mind.
Come Undone on AllMovie
Come Undone (2000)
