Wild Reeds (1994)

In a village in the Southwest of France, 1962. Maite and Francois are 18 years old. They are friends, not lovers. In Francois's classroom, there are Serge, whose brother has just married to... See full summary »

Director:

André Téchiné

Writers:

Olivier Massart, Gilles Taurand

Stars:

Élodie Bouchez, Gaël Morel, Stéphane Rideau

8 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Élodie Bouchez	...	Maïté Alvarez
Gaël Morel	...	François Forestier
Stéphane Rideau	...	Serge Bartolo
Frédéric Gorny	...	Henri Mariani
Michèle Moretti	...	Madame Alvarez
Jacques Nolot	...	Monsieur Morelli
Eric Kreikenmayer	...	Pierre Bartolo, the Groom
Nathalie Vignes	...	Irène, the Bride
Michel Ruhl	...	Monsieur Cassagne
Fatia Maite	...	Aicha Morelli
Claudine Taulère	...	Nurse
Elodie Soulinhac	...	Colette, Girl at Party
Dominique Bovard	...	Guard
Monsieur Simonet	...	Guard
Chief Officer Carre	...	Officer

Storyline

In a village in the Southwest of France, 1962. Maite and Francois are 18 years old. They are friends, not lovers. In Francois's classroom, there are Serge, whose brother has just married to try to escape from the war in Algeria, and Henri, a pied-noir (Algerian-born Frenchman). Francois and Serge will have a homosexual relationship, but Serge wants to marry his brother's wife...

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Plot Keywords:

homosexual | french colonialism | mutual masturbation | gay | male objectification | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

10 May 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Wild Reeds

Filming Locations:

Villeneuve-sur-Lot, Lot-et-Garonne, France

Box Office

Gross USA:

$917,915

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ima Films,Les Films Alain Sarde,Canal+

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Stéphane Rideau and Gaël Morel have worked together in two films: Wild Reeds (1994) and Loin (2001). Also, Gaël Morel has directed Stéphane Rideau in four films: La vie à rebours (1995), Full Speed (1996), Premières neiges (1999) and Three Dancing Slaves (2004).

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Goofs

One of the songs featured at the party which Maïté and François go to after the movie is "Barbara Ann" by The Beach Boys, which was recorded and released in the fall of 1965, a full three years after the 1962 time setting for this movie.

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Quotes

François Forestier: I'm like you, I'm queer, but I haven't met my soul-mate yet. I met someone who doesn't want me. I should give up. That would be smarter. But I'm not smart. I have no chance, but I can't give up. I don't get discouraged. We made love once. Just once. In the beginning. He doesn't want to anymore. Since then I'm like a thief. I steal brief moments... Once I held him tight on my bike. Another time, I slept near him. You have experience. Only you can help me. At my age, did this happen to you? When ...
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in The Fluffer (2001)

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Soundtracks

Run Away
Written by Del Shannon and Sam Cooke
Performed by Del Shannon

User Reviews

A beautifully and touchingly made teenage drama

Director Techine once again has made a beautiful movie, this time concerning a group of teenage friends in southern France in the early 1960's. Techine uses the Algerian war as a catalyst for the interaction between the 4 friends. As the movie unfolds, each friend discovers how they're involved with one another, in dramatizatons that the French are so good at. Techine makes good use of the idyllic, pastoral French Pyrenee countryside to compliment the personal dramas unfolding in it. You can almost smell and feel the summertime around you. A touchingly-done coming-of-age film for all ages, not just teens. So successful was the pairing of Rideau and Bouchez that they went on to make several other movies together, one of which was directed by Gael Morel, one of the stars in this movie as well.