Wild Reeds (1994)

The fates of two homosexual partners are divided.

Director:

André Téchiné

Writers:

Olivier Massart, Gilles Taurand

Stars:

Élodie Bouchez, Gaël Morel, Stéphane Rideau

9 wins & 7 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

A village in Southern France, 1962. The Algerian war is coming to an end. Teenagers Maïte and François are friends. François realizes he has feelings for his classmate Serge, who is instead attracted to Maïte - but Maïte is more interested in politics than in Serge. Her views are opposed to those of Henri, another classmate of the boys. The four of them entangle in a game of tensions and emotions.

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Plot Keywords:

french colonialism | homosexual | mutual masturbation | idealism | feminism | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

After his brother's funeral, Serge is speaking with Maïté, and he tells her that he likes her hair because it reminds him of Françoise Hardy. Hardy is a French singer and actress, more famous for her singing, whose first recordings were released in 1962, which is the time setting for this film, when Hardy would have been approximately the same age as the main characters, 18 years old. One of her first recordings, "Tous les garçons et les filles" was a major hit in France in 1962, selling over one million copies, and was awarded a gold record. Even though there was a reference to Hardy in the script, Hardy's songs were not part of the sound track, and she did not appear in the film (her first acting credit was the following year, 1963).

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Goofs

In the soundtrack credits the song "Barbara Ann" is misspelled as "Barbara Anne", and "Smoke gets in your eyes" as "Smoke get's in your eyes".

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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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Alternate Versions

Shorter TV version released under the title Tous les garçons et les filles de leur âge: Le chêne et le roseau (1994) (TV)

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Connections

Referenced in The Fluffer (2001)

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Soundtracks

Smoke gets in your eyes
by Otto A. Harbach and Jerome Kern
Performed by The Platters

User Reviews

My favorite movie by far

I absolutely adore this movie. When I first saw it, I loved it because I could identify with the lead gay character, but I have seen it since then, and i love it now for its portrayal of the complexity of adolescence life. This is by no means part of the American teen melodrama genre. It deals with everything from homosexuality to mental illness to war to racism to feminism to communism. It has a deep political, psychological, and emotional message. I urge you to see this movie.

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:

$807,775

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$807,775

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