The Witnesses
(2007)
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The Witnesses
(2007)
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| Credited cast: | |||
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Michel Blanc | ... |
Adrien
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| Emmanuelle Béart | ... |
Sarah
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| Sami Bouajila | ... |
Mehdi
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| Julie Depardieu | ... |
Julie
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Johan Libéreau | ... |
Manu
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Constance Dollé | ... |
Sandra
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Lorenzo Balducci | ... |
Steve
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Alain Cauchi | ... |
Sheriff
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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David Barbas | ... |
Medhi's colleague
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| Xavier Beauvois | ... |
L'éditeur
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Raphaëline Goupilleau | ... |
La mère de Julie et Manu
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| Jacques Nolot | ... |
Le patron de l'hôtel
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Maïa Simon | ... |
La mère de Sarah
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Bertrand Soulier | ... |
Doctor #1
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June 1984 to June 1985, from happy days to war to summer's return. A middle-aged doctor in Paris, Adrien, meets Manu, a young gay man from the provinces who lives with his sister, an opera singer. Adrien likes Manu, loves him even, in a Platonic relationship. Sarah, a writer, and Mehdi, a vice-squad cop, have an infant. Sarah discovers she has no taste for parenthood. Adrien bring Manu to Sarah's country cabin where Mehdi saves Manu from drowning. Back in Paris, an affair begins as a plague descends on Parisian gays. There are tests, illness, anger, relief, separations, and death. A year later, these friends meet again at the summer place. They are witnesses to how happiness has changed. Written by <jhailey@hotmail.com>
My experience of films with a male gay theme is very limited having only seen Hollywood's most recent output before Les Temoins. It is a film that I found both refreshing and pleasantly surprising in the way in which it approaches and represents a physical gay relationship. Sex is shown to be sensitive and loving. It shows such a versatile tenderness from both parties and Sami Bouajila's performance as the character of Mehdi evokes such genuine feelings that I was moved to tears. In addition to this, I found Les Temoins an extremely beautiful film to watch visually, its very blue and yellow colour-scape providing a serene backdrop for the action. For someone looking for a much gentler yet highly gripping tale of gay love this is a film I would highly recommend.