Gouttes d'eau sur pierres brûlantes (2000)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

François Ozon

Writers:

Rainer Werner Fassbinder (play)
François Ozon (writer)

Release Date:

15 March 2000 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

In the 70s Germany, a 50 year old businessman falls in love with a 20 year old boy.

Plot Keywords:

Shot In The Forehead | Bare Butt | Teenager Nudity | Sex Scene | Breasts

Awards:

2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Bernard Giraudeau	...	Léopold
Malik Zidi	...	Franz
Ludivine Sagnier	...	Anna
Anna Levine	...	Véra (as Anna Thomson)

Also Known As:

Water Drops on Burning Rocks (International: English title)

Runtime:

90 min | Canada:82 min (video version)

Country:

France

Language:

French | German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Netherlands:16 | South Korea:18 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) | Denmark:15 | France:U | Hong Kong:III | Italy:VM18 | Norway:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | Germany:12

Company:

Fidélité Productions

Trivia:

Based on a play written by famous film director Rainer Werner Fassbinder when he was only 19.

Soundtrack:

Miniature : Auf d'r schwäb'sche Eisebahne

A film that sizzles

The film version of Fassbinder's play retains the theatrical structure with 4 acts, 4 actors and 4 great performances. The dialogue wins you over at once and keeps you in rapt attention hanging on every word. Leopold a persuasive self-indulgent bi-sexual restructures the lives of 3 people as he introduces them to new sexual adventures. First there's Franz a good-looking 20 year old who is contemplating marriage with his girlfriend Anna. He becomes confused about love when he has a homosexual dream which Leopold is only too happy to recreate once he has enticed the somewhat inexperienced Franz into his bed. Then there's Anna who is agreeably surprised at the change in Franz's sexual attitude. She too is overwhelmed by Leopold's advances towards her. Thirdly there's Vera - now a woman, once a man - Leopold's ex-lover perhaps more confused and disappointed than any of them. It's an entertaining romp as we watch the hand of experience "create" new lives for each of them. Leopold always in search of novelty knows what each victim is yearning for and he is only too ready to meet their desires....at least until the novelty wears off. I felt the first three acts were absolutely flawless. Act 4 with its black humour was less appealing I thought. The telephone call to his mother was quite unforgettable....."I think I'll go to Heaven because I'm young!"....and spoken with such dead pan sincerity. And the follow-up call to mother was a real gem. Yes...it's the dialogue that fascinates and holds the play together... the casting too is exceptional....and as for the old game of Ludo.... it will be so much more meaningful to me in the future!