Son Frere

Rating:
Summary: A Meditation on Brotherly Love
Review: SON FRERE (His Brother) is one of the finer French films from the gifted Director of opera and film Patrice Chereau ("Intimacy", "Those Who Love Me Can Take The Train", "Queen Margot") and as in his other works, SON FRERE succeeds in drawing the audience along a journey that is not always pleasant (it is often even very grim) but one that leads to introspection and leaves the viewer the richer for having seen it. Thomas (Bruno Todeschini) is the older of two brothers of a small French family from Nantes. He was always the brother who satisfied the greater expectations of his mother (Antoinette Moya) and father (Fred Ulysse) more than his younger brother Luc (Eric Caravaca): Thomas lives with his girlfriend Claire (Nathalie Boutefeu) in a 'normal' relationship while Luc is a gay man with a constant companion Vincent (Sylvain Jacques), a life style never discussed yet never approved of by the family. Thomas becomes ill (Thrombocytopenia) and finally reveals his secret illness to Claire, his parents and, reluctantly, to Luc. As Thomas faces the cruelty of his debilitating illness (as dryly described by his physician played with great skill by Catherine Ferran), he realizes he needs constant care and asks Luc to be his caretaker. Luc complies ("It is something I would do for anyone" despite the fact that the two brothers have been estranged for years). Claire succumbs to the pressure of being unable to cope with the situation and Thomas and Luc spend his time away from frequent hospital trips in Paris at the summer home in Brittany. The film is told in flashback form from hospital bed to seaside house. The presence of a talkative, intrusive elderly (?prophetic) man (Maurice Garrel) gives the brothers insights into the meaning of existence and it is through the words of the old man that the brothers' relationship is transformed gradually but indelibly. Director Chereau has adapted Philippe Besson's novel by the same name with quiet, slowly paced dexterity, taking time to focus on all the aspects of terminal illness such as surgery preparation, hospital room pallor, and the cold truth about the inevitability critical illness. All of the actors deliver first-rate performances, never fearing the grimness of their feelings or appearances or immodest nudity. This is a film of great power, a film that challenges the intellect while reaching for the heart. 'Those who love me can take the train' could be transposed to 'Those who love Chereau can share this film.' A little masterpiece. In French with English subtitles.

Rating:
Summary: Gritty Realism Defines Brothers' Relationship
Review: SON FRERE (His Brother) is yet another fine French film from the gifted Director of opera and film Patrice Chereau ("Intimacy", "Those Who Love Me Can Take The Train", "Queen Margot") and as in his other works, SON FRERE succeeds in drawing the audience along a journey that is not always pleasant (it is often even very grim) but one that leads to introspection and leaves the viewer the richer for having seen it. Thomas (Bruno Todeschini) is the older of two brothers of a small French family from Nantes. He was always the one with greater expectations by his mother (Antoinette Moya) and father (Fred Ulysse) than his younger brother Luc (Eric Caravaca): Thomas lives with his girlfriend Claire (Nathalie Boutefeu) in a 'normal' relationship while Luc is a gay man with a constant companion Vincent (Sylvain Jacques), a life style never discussed yet never approved of by the family. Thomas becomes ill (Thrombocytopenia) and finally reveals his secret illness to Claire, his parents and, reluctantly, to Luc. As Thomas faces the cruelty of a slow death (as dryly described by his physician played with great skill by Catherine Ferran), he realizes he needs constant care and asks Luc to be his caretaker. Luc complies ("It is something I would do for anyone" despite the fact that the two brothers have been estranged for years). Claire succumbs to the pressure of being unable to cope with death and Thomas and Luc spend his time away from frequent hospital trips in Paris to the summer home in Brittany. The film is told in flashback form from hospital bed to seaside house. The presence of a talkative, intrusive old man (Maurice Garrel) gives the brothers insights into the meaning of life/death issues and it is through the words of the old man that the brothers' relationship is transformed gradually but indelibly. Director Chereau has adapted Philippe Besson's novel by the same name with quiet, slowly paced dexterity, taking time to focus on all the aspects of terminal illness such as surgery preparation, hospital room pallor, and the cold truth about the inevitability of dying. All of the actors deliver first-rate performances, never fearing the grimness of their feelings or appearances or immodest nudity. This is a film of great power, a film that challenges the intellect while reaching for the heart. 'Those who love me can take the train' could be transposed to 'Those who love Chereau can share this film.' A little masterpiece. In French with English subtitles.