Homme au bain

It's impossible to know just how close to 'honesty' Christophe Honore comes in his film "Man at Bath" since this study of a gay relationship on the rocks gives us a set of characters that, if we relate to them at all, we do so with a fair amount of distaste. This is a very sexually explicit film but it is a film without love; the only character capable of love, you think, is Emmanuel and he's been denied it and in turn denies it to others. He's played by the gay porn star Francois Sagat with a reasonable degree of empathy; at least he's the only character on screen with whom you might identify with emotionally. Otherwise this film, which is also concerned with filmmaking as a livelihood and the process of 'acting' in general, is masturbatory in all the wrong ways. I am sure there must be a point to it as well as an audience but right now it's difficult to see either. On the plus side at least, one character has the good taste to read "Franny and Zooey" though he does so in the bath.

i saw this film today as part of the seattle international film festival. i've seen a lot of films in my life and this has to be one of the worst ever. i don't really think there is a plot and certainly no character development. the style of filming is very amateur. one of the few things i did like about the film was the nudity. i have no problem with that as this film has a very sexual tone and it's nice to see that the director and actors weren't shy. i had bets with a few of the other filmgoers today on how many people would walk out of this screening and i won the bet. i stopped counting at 22 (my guesstimate was "over 20"). i really have no idea why this film was made. it will be forgotten in a few years as it has no relevance.

The reviews here aren't yet terribly informative concerning what you will see in this film. Though thanks to stimablue above for some information on Francois Sagat.

The film is typical in style of the trend in French 'cottage' gay cinema film making current today. Taking the philosophy of the 1960s 'Nouveau Vague' movement's distrust for artifice, french cinema is concerned with finding new forms which don't uphold fantasy, make believe or 'Hollywood' style pretences. The many approaches characterises much which constitute's the typical French film today.

France continues to produce a steady stream of significant gay films, more so than nearly all other countries except America. Also, a recent general trend for films released in the the gay film world sees an increase in hand-held, DIY, everyday mocumentary styles and Homme au bain is no exception.

So what do we have here ? The story is a novel reversal of expectations where a couple who obviously have a passion for each other are facing a split. It's not sure if the rift is intentional or simply because one partner is going away but the film portrays what happens during the period when this separation occurs. The title - 'A man takes a Bath' is a french idiomatic expression referring to the idea of a man who suffers a loss of standing.

The french setting is a gay sub-community existing in a French suburban housing project environment. These landscapes are more conventionally portrayed in France as the problematic zones of racial division & social exclusion. The film draws attention to the fact that a multi racial gay life also exists in such places. It shows a 'ghettoised' portrayal of a variety of gay characters where the main impetus for existence is negation and exploration of one's sensual desires. No other clue of how these people exist in the wider world is given. So the idea of a loss of standing is expanded by the narrowness of what we see.

The New York sections also focus on the same narrow selection of ideas. However, 'Cinema' itself, as a theme is self referentially added where Emmanual's (Francois Sagat) ex-partner & visitor to NYC is the one filming all the American sections from within the story and also where the purpose of his trip is in part to visit the showing a friend's (graduation ?) film. However, enactments of sensual desire dominates the action we see in NYC too. The body and love, longing and comfort remain ever present.

The film has a slight narrative plot. What we see is very quotidian but the film remains loyal to it's chosen select meditation and one or two of the scenes glimpsing the intimacy and humanity of ordinary acts of desire are unexpected, startling and fresh even in their simplicity.

The over-all message is reassurance through the portrayal of how key emotional moments actually take place in our daily life. For example, New York is highly accessible but seen to be a closed-in and over looked place in which to manifest private intimacy and it's not glamorous and unobtainable. It could very easily be the viewer in those scenes. Despite a somewhat grungy portrayal of desire which could be interpreted as exploitative and even anti climatic, there is in fact hope in this film, with a farewell speculation as to the lasting effect of the main couple's split and the actual strength of their love for each other.

I use the word good in the sense that it does not glorify violence, and has no mean intentions. Like a fellow reviewer here I am sickened by the obsession of men fighting men; fighting and killing and when they are not killing they are murdering women. This obsession so frequent in both British television series and in American films and series is bad. Making love and even some casual sex as shown in this film is far healthier but will the mindset of showing violence over sexuality ever change ? I have my doubts and good it seems has a difficult time in succeeding over the avalanche of bad and brutal scenarios. I have no idea if Christophe Honore ( who I admire very much as a director despite certain failures that in my opinion he has made, and I may have been critical of a few here ) shares my viewpoint, but it was pleasing to hear in an interview with Francois Sagat that Pasolini's misguided ' Salo ' was difficult to watch. This interview can be seen on the French DVD of the film. I like the study here of that void when a lover may have left you and you long so much for his return that you paint his portrait on your living room wall. Sagat does precisely that and it is the most moving scene in the film that kiss. As for the filming itself it is a little rough and self conscious at times, but that does not matter as a smile on Chiara Mastroianni's face illuminates the screen. Why is she in this film ? Why not ? She is clearly a favourite actor for Honore, and despite the fact that most of the sexual scenes between men she seems quite at home with this. Her political remarks in an American cab are spot on and I mentally applauded her for them. And despite the free wheeling style I loved the beginning and the end where a critical emotional situation comes full circle. A unique film and it is a pity I have waited so long to see it. It is relevant in 2022 and I hope the good nature of it will still reach people with its intrinsic goodness.

First off this is directed and written by truly a visionary talent that I absolutely love behind the camera and also his writing talent. He is able to capture his actors and also create a feel that leaves lasting impressions upon the viewer. He is it stunning in creating and building up his characters and also the scenarios those characters are going through. Christophe Honore is a brilliant talented young fresh original and brilliant director, He has directed so many very stunning films such as 2006's Dan's Paris and 2007's Love Songs and 2009's Making Plans for Lena, just to name a few.

Just about every picture I see that he creates ends up leaving a lasting mark on my love affair of cinema. I was finally given the opportunity to watch this film titled, Man at Bath which was a 2010 film. What's interesting to note about this movie is this stars gay porn actor Francois Sagat. This would be his second main stream performance in a feature film. Now many die-hard gay porn lovers will know him throughout many of his pornographic films probably most notably in the many Titan Media Porn Studio film. His first main stream film was in the 2010 violent and controversy L.A. Zombie. Now he did appear in another mainstream movie but really didn't act, he was just billed as the male addict in 2009's Saw VI. He is a very muscular, beautiful, sexy handsome looking man and he is very gifted and versatile in the sexual department and also acting. Very lustful, very eye candy-ish. Very manly man in the overall persona, specifically in the gay porn world. He is of French nationality. Most recently a model. Many will know him as a pornographic God to the fans of his appearances and abilities. Ultimately it was a treat to see him acting in this movie.

Your main character Emmanuel is a gay hustler who lives with his lover Omar. Both live in Paris. They fight and Emmanuel is heartbroken and has to basically strive for himself and on his own. Now Omar heads to Manhattan and the movie follows both men as they discover a new life and accepts on there challenges of breaking up and coming to terms with their current life settings. They have to ultimately find themselves again and both are having to struggle and find their ultimate stable in life.

You can finish my review here: http://www.abucketofcorn.com/2014/08/man- at-bath-2010.html