Les nuits fauves

The first serious movie to deal with HIV, "Les nuits fauves" felt like a Joe Frazier hook when it came out in 1992. Gone are all the pitiful sentimental demonstrations of future films like "Philadelphia" . In fact, AIDS is merely the backdrop of the film. Cyril Collard never asks for pity. The movie is both a confession and an hymn to life. It doesn't try to moralize the audience, although some spectators were concerned about the "message" such a film might send. You have to remember that the events described in LNF take place in 1986, when the concept of HIV and AIDS were still abstract and to be defined. Collard himself said in a 1992 interview that the irresponsability of his character, Jean, having unprotected sex although aware he is infected, would be rightly considered criminal by now. The virus serves as a driving force for a main character that is learning to love, opening himself to others, to the world. But to reach the light, you must first go through the darkness and the task is not an easy one to witness. LNF demands a lot on the viewer, asking him to let go of his preconceive ideas and ideals. Very much influenced by his mentor Maurice Pialat, Collard makes a daring film, one which you could never imagine coming from the all too clean world of Hollywood film making. Here, energy comes first, technical aspects of movie making later. Therefore life, real life, shines through. "Les nuits fauves" is a force to be reckon with. An unsettling experience I will never forget.

Many films are described as "true life dramas". but this is the one if ever there was one. The central character Jean (Cyril Collard) a hedonistic young film producer who engages in sex with both men and women mirrors the real life story of Cyril Collard who was suffering from the AIDS virus during the making of this film and succumbed to it when the film was finished. This is a great shame because obviously Cyril Collard has lots of talent both as actor and producer, and had he lived we could have enjoyed a whole lot of top quality films. This film starts on a quiet note but gathers strength after Jean reveals he is suffering from AIDS. His girl friend Laura is shocked at the revelation as they had been engaged in unprotected sex. Wild scenes of erratic and uncontrolled behaviour indicate the frustrations of the couple. His outburst "I don't want to die!" is a high point and her constant appeal to him to give up his male contacts bears little fruit. "Help me to leave you!" is her pathetic cry. Cyril Collard has a great charm and infectious smile which he uses to advantage in his characterisation of Jean. It is a powerful drama with a constant feeling of desperation as we the viewers anticipate the fatal outcome. Not a film to cheer you up after a hard day, but it has a frightening authenticity about it which compels you to watch it to the end. The film clearly makes the point that we have a responsibility re the health of others beyond our own self satisfaction.

I should probably take back the word masterpiece since Cyril Collard's directorial debut was actually his only film. The director, writer and main character of the film died just three days before his film swept the Caesars(the Oscar's french counterpart). Collard died of AIDS and brought to life one of the most compelling films surrounding this theme. It is not just people whining because of the departure of the beloved one but a tour de force involving hatred, passion, self destruction, and all those "nice" feelings that accompany a person who knows that he will die sooner than the rest, and culminating in spiritual redemption. This film also portrays one of the finest love triangles on film; the at times sickening at times profoundly erotic and at times inevitably cathartic relationship between Jean and his two lovers is a genius example that love is not "Sleepless in Seattle". Romane Bohringer(probably best known for her character as Verlaine's wife in Total Eclipse) is a must see in her breakthrough performance as a confused and VERY passionate young girl.

When I saw it for the first time on 1st Russian Channel ORT in The Gold Collection I was so impressed I couldn't talk about it. This movie really changed me, changed the way I felt about myself & the world around. Cyril have done really great job to help people understand that there are other colours in this world besides black & white and sometimes people are learning a lot even if hurts to live. I remember 2 interesting quotes: the 1st is from Del Amitri song: "When U driving with your breakes on, when U swimming with your boots on - it's really hard to say U love someone, it's really hard to say U don't." And the 2nd is (somebody wrote once): everything that doesn't kill me - makes me stronger. Unfortunately we can't use it literally in this case. But it's the same situation with all heroes - they die young & became famous. Another thing I'd like to say is: has anyone ever tried to compare Cyril Collard's "Les Nuits Fauves" and Gregg Araki's 'The Living End"? I mean these 2 pictures are quite different but I felt both of it are really personal & chamber. And acting, editing, directing & filming I think has a lot in common. But the end in "Les Nuits Fauves" I like more. And the music is just great. It's not really professional but it makes it more touching. Thank U for reading this comment.

An authentic and semi autobiographical movie with lots of philosophical touches on top of bodies and senses. It is well-made in a dramatic and sometimes phlegmatic way, could have delved deeper into the horror and abyss that the lead actor was experiencing both on set and in his real life suffering.

Instead it opts to thematically jump back and forth to couples relationships, ongoing and increasing drama and as much as those could have been accepted in the context of the movie, the too philosophical and blurred ending depicting uncertainty and unknowingness wasn't to my taste, though from an artistic viewpoint I understand it.

• Screenplay/storyline/plots: 7
• Production value/impact: 7.5
• Development: 7
• Realism: 7
• Entertainment: 6.5
• Acting: 7
• Filming/photography/cinematography: 7
• VFX: 7.5
• Music/score/sound: 7
• Depth: 7.5
• Logic: 5.5
• Flow: 7
• Drama/biography/crime/romance/hard feelings: 7
• Ending: 6.5.