Son frère (2003)

Director:

Patrice Chéreau

Writers:

Philippe Besson (novel)
Patrice Chéreau (scenario)

Release Date:

22 August 2003 (Italy)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Two brothers with a problematic relationship in the past, find together again when the elder one gets a dangerous disease and asks his brother to accompany him to several doctors.

Plot Keywords:

Sex Scene | Suicide | Male Nudity | Brother | Love Scene

Awards:

2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Bruno Todeschini	...	Thomas
Eric Caravaca	...	Luc
Nathalie Boutefeu	...	Claire
Maurice Garrel	...	Le vieil homme
Catherine Ferran	...	Head Doctor
Antoinette Moya	...	La mère
Sylvain Jacques	...	Vincent
Fred Ulysse	...	Le père
Robinson Stévenin	...	Manuel
Claudine Benichou
Véronique Iafrate
Cathy Roudaut
Sabrina Fessan
Catherine Moulin
Sandrine Faccini

Also Known As:

Son frère (UK) (USA)
His Brother (International: English title)
Son Frère (His Brother) (USA) (DVD title)

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:R21 | Iceland:12 | Spain:13 | Germany:12 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | Italy:VM14 | Hong Kong:III | Brazil:16

Company:

Arte France

Soundtrack:

Sleep

Warning: patience, compassion and strong stomach needed!

If you know Chéreau mainly by his version of Alexander Dumas' novel La Reine Margot or maybe even more famous adaptation of Hanif Kureishi's Intimacy, get ready for something very different. His brother is not history based, there are no mass scenes or attractive dissolute individuals, there are no explicate sex scenes, only delicate human story of illness demystification, complicated family relationships and about love in general. You need patience, compassion and strong stomach for this film. About two thirds of the audience left the cinema before the end. I did not even think about it. I loved it. It was unforgettable. Thomas and Luc are brothers who had lost their closeness long time ago and do not keep in touch until the older one gets strange sickness. Thomas' blood cannot coagulate, doctors are not capable to help, his girlfriend leaves him, his parents argue at his bedside and the only one who stays besides him is his younger brother. Entirely confused and unprepared, in the beginning Luc resists the need to stay with his brother. In a sad hospital surrounding he meets every day a cold doctor, dense nurses and quiet, resigned patients. With no disgust, Chéreau shows plenty of ugly scars, wrinkled skin, hairs, bruises, shiners and burdensome long lasting medical procedures that are not pleasant for sure, but do prepare for death. The sequence where Luc meets nineteen-year old Manuel is astonishing. Gay-oriented man notices Manuel's big eyes and gorgeous lips, still present traces of unusual beauty. During the spontaneous chat with this cut-like-a-piece-of-meet boy full of wounds and scars Luc feels more empathy and warmth than he feels for his own brother. An affecting scene when Manuel's and Luc's hands touch will later repeat with Thomas, when closeness they used to have in their childhood is re-established between two brothers. Retrospectively mixed events unavoidably lead to the fact they are left all alone, with no partners and parents, aware of inescapable death. The act of dying will not be shown so there will be no real cathartic discharge. The right song used at the right place provokes so appalling shudders that every future listening to the same song will surely bring them back. The bitter voice of Marianne Faithful in "Sleep" from her album "A secret life", the song so beautiful and so sad conjures the climax up. This is where the soundtrack starts and ends. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, as the song says.