›› You'll Get Over It - À Cause d’un Garçon - Because of a Boy
the emotional repercussions of a malicious sexual outing
Star of the school swimming team and all round model pupil, if not the perfect son, Vincent Molina's seemingly carefree approach to life is at odds with that of his brother Régis, whose rebellious nature finds him more at ease in the squared circle, than at home. Yet appearances can be deceptive. For whilst Vincent's deep friendship with the
beautiful Noémie is known to be the envy of many, what isn't common knowledge is his troubled relationship with Bruno; an openly gay man totally unaware that Vincent's encounter with new kid on the block Benjamin has resulted with his true sexuality becoming the subject of classroom gossip. Only what's a boy to do, when you're outed, graffiti style?
Delivered with the melodramatic intensity that the French do so well, this semi-autobiographical work from screenwriter Vincent Molina charts the emotional repercussions of a malicious sexual outing.
To that end and as expected, reactions vary. Yet whilst the outstretched hand of support from close friend Stéphane and his taking it day-by-day parents contrasts with the ingrained homophobia of those who once championed their sporting hero, it is the bond between Julien Baumgartner as Vincent and Julia Maraval as the girl for whom unrequited love is but her middle name that dominates this feature, much it has to be said to the detriment of the screen presence of Jérémie (Presque Rien)
Elkaïm as lover boy Benjamin. Only here the inspired turn lies with Bernard Blancan, who as the 'live and let live' team coach provides Vincent with the encouragement to rebuilt his life and swimming aspirations, as an out individual.
For like Simon Shore's Get Real, this compelling work deals with getting real with your sexuality in the face of classroom taunts and homophobic bullying. Only for all of its good intentions, including many a telling line of the like of "every day I vow to tell my family and friends, but I'm too scared," this French telemovie plays it all too straight as-it-were, sex scenes included, all of which prompts questions as to the nature of its target audience. That it resonates with coming-of-age realism, is not in doubt. Yet its sequences of gay affection are undermined by the all too brief out and proud ending on offer here, one that frankly is just too convenient a resolution to life in at the homosexual deep end. Need more be said?
screened as part of the 17th London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival 2003
starring: Julien Baumgartner, Julia Maraval, Jérémie Elkaïm, François Comar, Christiane Millet,
Patrick Bonnel, Antoine Michel, Nils Ohlund, Bernard Blancan, Eric Bonicatto
graffiti translation: "Molina is a fag, he sucks D."
Star of the school swimming team and all round model pupil, if not the perfect son, Vincent Molina's seemingly carefree approach to life is at odds with that of his brother Régis, whose rebellious nature finds him more at ease in the squared circle, than at home. Yet appearances can be deceptive. For whilst Vincent's deep friendship with the
beautiful Noémie is known to be the envy of many, what isn't common knowledge is his troubled relationship with Bruno; an openly gay man totally unaware that Vincent's encounter with new kid on the block Benjamin has resulted with his true sexuality becoming the subject of classroom gossip. Only what's a boy to do, when you're outed, graffiti style?
To that end and as expected, reactions vary. Yet whilst the outstretched hand of support from close friend Stéphane and his taking it day-by-day parents contrasts with the ingrained homophobia of those who once championed their sporting hero, it is the bond between Julien Baumgartner as Vincent and Julia Maraval as the girl for whom unrequited love is but her middle name that dominates this feature, much it has to be said to the detriment of the screen presence of Jérémie (