a film by Gaël Morel
2004 | 90 mins | France
Nicolas Cazalé .... Marc
Stéphane Rideau .... Christophe
Thomas Dumerchez .... Olivier
Salim Kechiouche .... Hicham
Bruno Lochet .... The Father
Vincent Martinez .... The 'Professeur'
Jackie Berroyer .... Robert
Aure Atika .... Emilie
Nicolas Paz .... Montana
Le Clan
an intense tale of
brotherly love
Available on DVD as part of the
Parasol Peccadillo catalogue
www.parasolpictures.co.uk
www.peccadillopod.com
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Three brothers, three tales to tell that over the course of ninety minutes form a graphic
illustration of brotherly love.
For whilst awaiting the release of his brother Christophe from prison, tormented soul Marc
spends his days alternating between rebelling against his father and hanging out with
his friends. Only their idea of fun when not training at the gym, is sampling the
services of a transvestite prostitute, high as they are on a mix of alcohol and drugs.
Yet Marc's reckless life is soon to be brought into focus by the arrival of Christophe, who much
to his consternation is now a reformed character; promptly getting a job at a meat processing
factory, determined as he is to go straight as-it-were. Not that you'd catch the youngest
sibling heading in that direction, given Olivier prefers the company in more ways than one,
of Hicham, an Arabian hunk into capoeira dancing and a man who like Marc once sought the product
of the local drugs dealer, only to then experience the bloody reality of the business when
full payment was not forthcoming. Out for revenge for a beating that went a stage too
far, the question beckons can either brothers make Marc see sense, before he
forever fractures his life and the lives of those around him?
Like the seasonal titles of its episodic chapters, this intense work has many shades and
colours; some light and some decidedly dark. Yet at its core, this is a film about male bonding
and how three brothers seemingly cannot function without each other in the aftermath of their
mother's death. Yet theirs is a relationship that whilst not incestuous, certainly takes
brotherly love to an all the more intimate level. To that end, the three leads give this film
their all, inparticular Nicolas Cazalé who as Marc is every inch the rebel of the
piece, overflowing with testosterone in a part that contrasts nicely with
Stéphane Rideau's compelling depiction of an ex-con exchanging
his criminal ways for a life of social conformity.
That this film is a work of love from its director is clearly evident. And yet it equally marks
a feature that comes so close and yet so far from achieving cinematic gold. For in running the
full gauntlet of emotions, it fails to focus on the central point it is making, leaving many
in its wake to wonder just what it was trying to say. That the story is told through
Hicham's eyes is a nice touch, but you cannot help but wonder if this is a film
or three thirty minute shorts linked into a whole?
Thankfully Olivier's tale of his relationship with Hicham whilst underdeveloped by comparison,
does make for welcome relief from prior scenes of violence and angst. Had this work focused
more on their deepening friendship, then perhaps it would have met with greater festival
cheer, given Thomas Dumerchez's sensitive portrayal of a young man coming to terms with
his homosexual self is handled with considerable charm. Only his is but one story of three,
in a film that is laced with just too many emotions. That it simmers with homoeroticism, overt
masculinity and full-frontal nudity is not in doubt. Yet this is also a work that delights
in shock value, contrasting beautifully shot scenes of male tenderness with acts
of downright brutality. And just what is it with these men and shaving?
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