Throughout the film people walk out of the frame. The characters depart the scene, or action, or interaction. They continually depart from personal and emotional interactions with each other.
These repeated bits of business make for an interesting filmic concept. I'm not sure they necessarily make for an interesting film. The film might have been just as well called "Avoidance" because that's what's happening eighty percent of the time. In fact, it makes a somewhat dull film.
The sexual tension between the son, Elliot, and the French boy, Clement is what really makes the film tolerable, particularly for us Gay guys. In truth the film only really comes alive when Phénix Brossard (Clement) is on the screen. He radiates hormonal maleness; it's hard to take your eyes off him. The rest of the time it's mostly mother and son tolerating each other. Politely, for the most part. They have a bad case of First World problems that doesn't make them particularly sympathetic.
I want to like this movie, but I can't. I can't really criticize it either... what it's doing, it's doing well. Although when it fails-as it does in the fantasy sequences-I found it cringe making. But other than those few scenes, the movie is delivering its message on point. It's just that the message isn't all that interesting.
These repeated bits of business make for an interesting filmic concept. I'm not sure they necessarily make for an interesting film. The film might have been just as well called "Avoidance" because that's what's happening eighty percent of the time. In fact, it makes a somewhat dull film.
The sexual tension between the son, Elliot, and the French boy, Clement is what really makes the film tolerable, particularly for us Gay guys. In truth the film only really comes alive when Phénix Brossard (Clement) is on the screen. He radiates hormonal maleness; it's hard to take your eyes off him. The rest of the time it's mostly mother and son tolerating each other. Politely, for the most part. They have a bad case of First World problems that doesn't make them particularly sympathetic.
I want to like this movie, but I can't. I can't really criticize it either... what it's doing, it's doing well. Although when it fails-as it does in the fantasy sequences-I found it cringe making. But other than those few scenes, the movie is delivering its message on point. It's just that the message isn't all that interesting.
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