The French title of this film is IN EXTREMIS (though translated as TO THE EXTREME) and means 'in desperate circumstances, especially at the point of death'. Rethinking the story of this interesting but problematic movie in those terms after viewing gives the cinematic effort more poignancy. This is a tale of the impact of family, loss of parents, dissolution of the core unit has on us all: in this story we are asked to exam the 'in extremis' state of such trauma.
Thomas (Sébastien Roch) is a hedonist, a handsome young man whose parents died in an Alpine accident, and a man who sleeps with both sexes in a confused state of true identity. He lives with one of his female lovers who has a young teenage son Grégoire (Jérémy Sanguinetti) whom he loves as a son. When the mother accidentally dies, Grégoire wants Thomas to be his guardian. Thomas' lifestyle does not lend itself to fatherhood and though he deeply loves Grégoire, by law and by proclivity he cannot assume the role of foster parent. Even with the aid of his prostitute sister Anne (Julie Depardieu) he is unable to keep the disappointed Grégoire from being sent to a prison-like orphanage. Thomas finds solace from his lover Vincent (Aurélien Wiik) and from his excursions into the bohemian all night orgies where he attempts to forget his promise to be available at all times for Grégoire. Eventually Thomas' devotion to Grégoire overcomes his hedonistic addiction and results in his aiding the boy's escape from the orphanage to move with him to the home in Ibiza his deceased parents owned. The story has a bizarre but touching ending, which comes totally unexpectedly, and revealing it would ruin the impact and message of the film.
Director/writer Etienne Faure ('Prisonnier', and 'À la recherche de Tadzio' which is included on this CD and traces the life of the actor Bjørn Andresen who played Tadzio in the film 'Death in Venice') directs his actors well but is less successful in finding the interaction of flashbacks, fantasies, graphic indulgences and superimposed poetry inundated with noisy music. But given these distractions the film still makes a simple case for the significance of family - genetic and extended - and therein is the power of the story. This is obviously the work of a young director with copious ideas about film and as such one can forgive many of the early experimental indulgences because the heart is in the right place. In French with English subtitles. Grady Harp, May 05
Characters not exactly likeable, but direction more to blame
The main character in the 2000 French indie film "In extremis" (To The Extreme) is Thomas, a self-absorbed 20-something bisexual part-time hustler (and full time "party boy") who is sexual relationships with a male and several women, including his own sister Anne, who works as a prostitute. One of his affairs is with an older neighbor single mother of a 13 year old son, and he is there to comfort the son when the mother passes away suddenly. The boy wants to live with Thomas, but he has neither the focus nor the maturity to care for him, a fact that is recognized by the authorities who send the boy to an orphanage.
The film is quite pretentious and faux "arty" with scenes of Thomas with his bohemian crowd, and of nightmare-like flashbacks of him wandering on a snowy mountain looking for his (and Anne's) dead parents. Unfortunately, the entire film seems sureal after a while, and one really doesn't connect with the characters, despite some decent acting from the young actor who plays 13 year old Gregorie, and the promise of Gerard Depardieu's daughter (Julie, who plays Anne) in the cast. Better direction could have made it a much better film.
In French with English or Spanish subtitles (which likely were a plus, since I doubt even someone who speaks fluent French would have caught every word of the mumbled dialogue), cinematography is a pleasant positive. Some male and female partial nudity, simulated sexual acts, but surprisingly not very erotic.
This is a quality movie, superb in every way, theme, character, pace, settings, and truly wonderful acting. Don't miss it! More Info about this DVD Director(s): Christian Faure DVD Release Date: Released the 24 May 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Almost worth getting for the hotness that is Brendan Fehr, plus the unexpected cutie Andre Noble (which I wouldn't have thought so much from the cover); however, their isn't nearly enough skin shown by the two. Plus, the one sex scene between them typifies the entire movie for me: far more brutal and corse than beautiful and endearing.
If you think you're getting a tender coming of age/boy's first time movie where he falls in love and recuses the down and out hustler guy with lots (as in more than one excuse for) sex scenes, then you're in for a BIG disappointment.
None of which is to say its a bad movie. The little sister Cookie is a total hoot and probably the most interesting character overall actually. Queer As Folk fans will recognize Cliff's wonderful Mother as being... More Info about this DVD Director(s): John Palmer DVD Release Date: Released the 16 November 2004 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Grande Ecole merges the delirious ogling of naked flesh with highfalutin' cultural theory from abstruse thinkers like Michel Foucoult--a whiplash-inducing combination that could only come from the French. Paul (Gergori Baquet), a middle-class student, arrives at a snooty economics school and finds himself lusting after his new roommate, the upper-class Louis-Arnault (Jocelyn Quivrin)--even though Paul already has a hot-and-heavy relationship with his luscious girlfriend Agnes (Alice Taglioni). Paul's sexual confusion leads him into an affair with a handsome Arab groundskeeper named Mecir (Salim Kechiouche), who falls helplessly in love with Paul. Grande Ecole awkwardly combines race and class consciousness, the defense of a death-row inmate in Texas, and an... More Info about this DVD Director(s): Robert Salis DVD Release Date: Released the 09 November 2004 Usually ships in 24 hours
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I saw this film many months ago at the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. Yes the guys are very hot! But the film is also a lot of fun. Director and writer Q. Allan Brocka has a way of making films with twists and turns and not merely predictable plots with ending you would expect 10 minutes into the film. This film is at times sweet and endearing, but it still has Brocka's dark and caustic edges too, producing some quite stinging and sharp lines. Numerous times I was howling with laughter after what some character said. Great film! More Info about this DVD DVD Release Date: 26 July 2005
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This was such a good movie the characters are interesting and charming. It does a good job showing what its like being on your own for the first time and in the city; and the unlikely trouble and friends you can find along the way, and when your really lucky you might find yourself as well. Don't miss this movie! It is well worth the price and share it with someone special friend lover or family they will thak you for it More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Michael Legge DVD Release Date: Released the 15 February 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
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