The Witnesses (2007)

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
Satya Dusaugey	...	Le prostitué
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.

---

Plot Keywords:

male frontal nudity | pubic hair | male pubic hair | male rear nudity | towel | 

---

Genres:

Drama | Romance

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French English

Release Date:

7 March 2007 (France)

Also Known As:

Los testigos

Filming Locations:

Quai des Orfèvres, Paris 1, Paris, France

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$14,800, 3 February 2008, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$77,300, 18 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 several scenes, Paris métro signs (at tabacs and on buses) sport the green logo that wasn't introduced until 1992. In 1984/85, the tickets and logo should have been yellow.

---

Connections

References Frankenstein (1931)

---

Soundtracks

Don't Forget the Nite
Performed by Les Rita Mitsouko
Lyrics by Catherine Ringer
Music by Fred Chichin
© EMI Virgin Music Publishing France / Six SARL
Avec l'autorisation de EMI VIRGIN MUSI PUBLISHING FRANCE & de SIX SARL
(p) (Album BESTOV (p) 2001 Capitol Music, une division d'EMI Music France)
1982 Virgin Music, une division de EMI Music France
Avec l'aimable autorisation de EMI Music France

User Reviews

Ash sea

As an ash sea. Love and errors, ivory towers and theoretically escapes. Social chains and sandy expectations. A young man - axis of small society. A sentimental adventure, the sick and the good ways. A french novel about values and sentimental windows. Scarfs of past and future as Persian carpet. Emmanuelle Beart in skin of reed-character. A film about AIDS and decisions. About search of life sense and answers behind the words. Death as scrub. And the sound of things who makes measure of feelings. Fresco of a world, it is interesting for the art of director and for interesting cast. And, more that, for the final taste. For the traces of its parts - mirrors in fact.