As Un jour d'ete came to an end the person behind me turned to his companion and said: "Why on earth would they show this film at a gay film festival?" There may be some truth in that question, but although the "gay" nature of the film may be debatable, the quality of the script and the performances mean that this is a film that shouldn't be pigeon-holed but deserves as wide an audience as possible.
The premise is simple: the accidental death of a popular member of the local football team throws a small community into turmoil. The boy's mother, who has already lost a husband, must now come to terms with her grief. The town's mayor must face the fact of his office's possible culpability. And, most touching of all, the dead boy's friend must face the future.
This is a film about loss - and at times is painful to watch. It is always wonderfully acted - not least by the incandescentally beautiful Baptiste Bertin as Sebastien - and filmed, although the limitations of a tight budget are sometimes apparent.
The "gay" angle is subtly understated. A homoerotic sensibility is in evidence in the way that the (often shirtless) Sebastien is filmed, and in the complicated relationship he has with the mayor's handsome son Francis (Brice Hillairet). Is Sebastien gay? Bisexual? Ultimately I don't think it's important. His loneliness is palpable, and he has trouble reaching out to others and sharing what is in his heart. I think many gay men - young or not - can relate to that.
The premise is simple: the accidental death of a popular member of the local football team throws a small community into turmoil. The boy's mother, who has already lost a husband, must now come to terms with her grief. The town's mayor must face the fact of his office's possible culpability. And, most touching of all, the dead boy's friend must face the future.
This is a film about loss - and at times is painful to watch. It is always wonderfully acted - not least by the incandescentally beautiful Baptiste Bertin as Sebastien - and filmed, although the limitations of a tight budget are sometimes apparent.
The "gay" angle is subtly understated. A homoerotic sensibility is in evidence in the way that the (often shirtless) Sebastien is filmed, and in the complicated relationship he has with the mayor's handsome son Francis (Brice Hillairet). Is Sebastien gay? Bisexual? Ultimately I don't think it's important. His loneliness is palpable, and he has trouble reaching out to others and sharing what is in his heart. I think many gay men - young or not - can relate to that.