Full Speed (1996)

A brief extract of four kids' lives somewhere in France. Quentin, who won a writers contest and now pays more attention to his career as an author than to his friends, beautiful Julie, his ... See full summary »

Director:

Gaël Morel

Writers:

Gaël Morel (original scenario), Gaël Morel (adaptation)

Stars:

Élodie Bouchez, Stéphane Rideau, Pascal Cervo

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Élodie Bouchez	...	Julie (as Elodie Bouchez)
Stéphane Rideau	...	Jimmy
Pascal Cervo	...	Quentin
Meziane Bardadi	...	Samir
Romain Auger	...	Rick / Le couple de la ruelle
Salim Kechiouche	...	Jamel
Mohammed Dib	...	Karim
Frédéric Fargier	...	Bande á Jimmy
Patrice Thomas	...	Bande á Jimmy
Youcef Ninach	...	Bande á Jimmy
Missoum Laimene	...	Bande á Jimmy
Laurent Diomande	...	Bande á Jimmy
Ryad Benkouider	...	Bande á Jimmy
Paul Morel	...	Le père de Quentin
Bernard Villeneuve	...	Le journaliste

Storyline

A brief extract of four kids' lives somewhere in France. Quentin, who won a writers contest and now pays more attention to his career as an author than to his friends, beautiful Julie, his girl-friend, much more mature than she looks, falling in love with Quentin's very best friend Jimmy, who is kind of stuck in his unability of self-expression and grown up under bad social circumstances. And there is the shy boy Samir, exiled from Algeria, who lost his "brother" and only friend some time ago. Samir heavily falls in love with Quentin, but he can't handle it...

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Plot Keywords:

gay cruising | gay club | gay kiss | gay slur | gay | 

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Taglines:

Know what it's like to be young?

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

16 January 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Full Speed

Filming Locations:

Villefranche-sur-Saône, Rhône, Rhône-Alpes, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Magouric Productions, Téléma, France 2 Cinéma

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

References Johnny Guitar (1954)

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Soundtracks

Bright On Time
Written by Daniele Davoli (as D. Davoli), L. Mirko and V. Semplici
Performed by Black Box
© 1990 by Gli Gnomi Edizioni Musicali
with permission of EMI Music Publishing France S.A. and Seven Inch Ltd., London (UK)

User Reviews

Coming of age, coming out, uneasy friendships among French youths

This is the latest film (the next one debuts in France later this year) by young actor turned director, Gael Morel ("Wild Reeds"),available on video in the US and UK. AT FULL SPEED explores many layers and complexities of relationships between youths in multi-racial France. A non-linear film, it examines the relationship between the characters in a variety of ways, contrasting attitudes in the province with those in Paris, exposing racism, and sexuality in ambiguous ways. But at the end, Morel suggests there is a fine line between hetero, bi, and homosexuality, between racists and their victims. A gifted ensemble cast including Morel's two co-stars in "Wild Reeds": Elodie Bouchez, and Stephane Rideau get the points across well to those willing to think and digest this difficult to follow film. It is definitely not for fans of current American youth-themed films. Although it lasts less than an hour and a half, the film leaves you feeling like it lasted much longer. That was, I think, Morel's intention, and not necessarily negative. It just may be too sophisticated for its intended audience.