Sauvage

I was not drawn to see Sauvage, but did so because a friend asked me. I won't outline the story because that's already been addressed, but I will say that I found Sauvage interesting, moreso perhaps because the director was present for a post-screening Q&A when I saw it as part of MoMA's New Directors Festival. One of the things this film expresses for me is that even though the world seems to group gay people and the gay existence as some kind of collective, group experience, it's really a very individual journey that each person confronts, deals with, and ultimately goes through on their own. The main character in Sauvage certainly has a unique perspective on life and living, and one that I doubt even has anything to do with the fact that he is gay. There's plenty of nudity, sex, and drug use, but none of it feel gratuitous or cheap. This film will be a bit too raw for many, but if you have even an ankling to check it out I suggest you do so.

In another of my reviews I rated 'Theo and Hugo' as a gay film that was as close to perfection as possible. 'Sauvage' is as good, and objectively perhaps better. It also falls into the gay category. Or does it? As a gay man myself, I hate to say that this is a more widely themed film, but homophobia, which still exists as a curse within our society, will limit its appeal by putting it into what is offensively categorised as the 'gay' niche.

This is a masculine film and it depicts a group of male prostitutes who do not (want to) fall into the gay category. They may protect each other and form fierce ties, but their actual identities are as fluid as water. Leo, our main protagonist is basically gay, and when he loses the love of his life, who is a partner in prostitution, his precarious life unravels towards tragedy. He is romantic and can be gentle, but he is a broken person in a broken society. He did not choose to be broken, but his very nature, faced with the brutality that surrounds him, crushes his health and his inner resources. The ending has overwhelming power, as portrayed by Robert Bresson in 'Mouchette' and 'Au Hasard Balthazar'. This is not about choice, but the inevitability of the pain that society inflicts upon the more sensitive and gentle in our world. Leo's face at the end should move everyone to anger and tears.

The compassionate and also the more tortured aspects of the sexual world he is in are shown explicitly. Some were sickening and Leo was sickened by them. But, elderly gays are portrayed with more tenderness than younger gays, which is an about turn from other gay films, and for the better!

I was reminded also of Bunuel and the opening of 'L'Age d'Or'. The scorpions fight in this masculine environment, and the torturer in the car and the young couple with the monstrous sex toy are a disgrace even to the scorpions.

Last but not least, the film depicts homelessness and the human shame of a society that stands by, watches, and intervenes only when prodded. But like Bresson's gentle donkey Leo lays down his head to (perhaps) finally rest and I repeat, we see one of the most sublime scenes in cinema.

This is an excellent movie. Probably the topic isn't everyones cup of tea, and it sure isn't a comfortable and pleasant watch. But what you do get, is a very realistic, honest and unadorned account of the daily struggle to survive of a young male street-prostitute in a big city (Paris?). No romanticizing here, it's all bleak, harsh and hopeless. What makes it extra touching, is the fact that the main character isn't just driven by opportunistic motives, but desperately longs for love and affection, which he sadly enough projects on the wrong guy.

Actor Felix Maritaud gives a very strong and convincing performance, very brave too, since director Camille Vidal-Naquet doesn't hold back in realism, with a fair amount of graphic sex. This is clearly not aimed to tittilate any erotic senses with the viewer, if anything it's mostly akward and sad to watch, but it adds to the authenticity of this movie. Hiding or masking the sex would have felt like fake.

Another strong aspect of the movie is the fact that it doesn't moralize. We never hear how the main character came to do what he does or what his background is, so no justifications or freudian explanations like a troubled youth or anything. It's clear that he doesn't see anything wrong in what he does or why he should change his way of life, however pathetic and hard it may be. The choice he makes in the end of the movie is in line with this, although for us it's hard, if not almost impossible to understand.

From the opening scenes you get a sense that this is not going to be comfortable viewing.. But who came here for a comfortable time ? The film is crafted with care, love, attention and most importantly respect. The themes are intense, chaotic and thought provoking giving us a real insight into the life of a gay sex worker. Through out the film there are tender even intimate moments admist the depravity we witness, this is due to the brilliant talent Maritaud who plays Leo, he plays Leo with so much empathy, honour and understanding.

This is a difficult film to review because it is an extremely difficult film to view. There were scenes when I found myself wincing and occasionally turning my face away from the screen. It's rough, it's raw, it's brutal, it's sad, it's violent and it all seems very authentic. It's the story of a young prostitute who is rather sweet at heart, but is also a lost soul with the need for love who continues to be lost when he finally finds it. The centerpiece of this very, very realistically acted film is Félix Maritaud. It is as bold and brazen a performance as you will ever see. He's beautiful, but ugly at times as he keeps going downhill in a life going in the wrong direction. This harsh film doesn't really have a purpose or a message other than to show you this ugly slice of life. To put it mildly, this is not a film for everyone nor is it a film for those who have a problem with nudity and sex. It cannot even really be classified as entertainment, but it is fascinating if you can handle it. Everyone in this is strong and not a one even seems like they're performing, but it is Mr. Maritaud that makes you care about a character, who despite all, always has an aura of innocence about him. This is the only feature film directed by Camille Vidal-Naquet. It would be interesting to see more of what he can do.