The Witnesses (2007)
"Les témoins" (original title)

Paris, 1984: A group of friends contend with the first outbreak of the AIDS epidemic.

Director:

André Téchiné

Writers:

André Téchiné (scenario, adaptation and dialogue), Laurent Guyot (scenario, adaptation and dialogue),

Stars:

Michel Blanc, Emmanuelle Béart, Sami Bouajila

2 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Michel Blanc	...	Adrien
Emmanuelle Béart	...	Sarah
Sami Bouajila	...	Mehdi
Julie Depardieu	...	Julie
Johan Libéreau	...	Manu
Constance Dollé	...	Sandra
Lorenzo Balducci	...	Steve
Alain Cauchi	...	Sheriff
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
David Barbas	...	Medhi's colleague
Xavier Beauvois	...	L'éditeur
Raphaëline Goupilleau	...	La mère de Julie et Manu
Jacques Nolot	...	Le patron de l'hôtel
Maïa Simon	...	La mère de Sarah
Bertrand Soulier	...	Doctor #1

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

friend | gay | summer | doctor | opera singer | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

France

Language:

French English

Release Date:

7 March 2007 (France)

Also Known As:

The Witnesses

Filming Locations:

Créteil, Val-de-Marne, France

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$14,800 (USA) (1 February 2008)

Gross:

$77,300 (USA) (16 May 2008)

Company Credits

Production Co:

UGC Distribution, SBS Films, France 2 Cinéma

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

In some scenes in the streets of Paris, you can see a couple Renault Twingo parked by the sidewalk. This model was first introduced in 1993.

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Connections

References Frankenstein (1931)

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Soundtracks

"L'air de Barberine des Noces de Figaro (Cavatine: L'ho perduta, me meschina)"
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (uncredited)
Conducted by Dominique Trottein
Performed by Anne-Sophie Domergue with Les musiciens de l'orchestre du Duodijon
Recording engineer: Franck Guinfoleau
Recorded at Auditorium de Dijon (March 2006)
avec l'aimable autorisation de Monsieur le Maire, François Rebsamen

User Reviews

Sensitive and Gripping

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.