Wild Reeds 1995

In the picturesque southwest France of 1962, a poignant coming-of-age tale unfolds as three young souls navigate the complexities of adolescence: François Forestier (Gaël Morel), Maïté Alvarez (Élodie Bouchez), and Serge Bartolo (Stéphane Rideau). François, a shy and introspective individual from a lower middle class background, is currently pursuing his baccalaureate at a boarding school. His close friendship with Maïté, whose mother Madame Alvarez (Michèle Moretti) is a dedicated French teacher at the institution, revolves around in-depth discussions about cinema and literature. As fate would have it, Mme Alvarez and Maïté share a strong commitment to communism.

The cinematic journey begins on a festive note as François and Maïté attend Pierre Bartolo’s (Eric Kreikenmayer) wedding celebration, where they meet Serge, the groom’s brother and a classmate of François’. François can’t help but view Serge as somewhat naive. Little does he know that this chance encounter will spark a profound connection between the two. At the wedding reception, Pierre implores Mme Alvarez to assist him in avoiding military service in Algeria, but she firmly declines.

As the narrative progresses, the audience is introduced to Henri Mariani (Frédéric Gorny), an Algerian-born French exile who is older than his peers due to a history of academic struggles. Haunted by events unfolding in Algeria, Henri passionately supports the OAS, advocating for the rights of French settlers and opposing Algerian independence. One fateful night, Serge joins François in their dormitory for an impromptu conversation that gradually unfolds into a tender sexual encounter. They also agree to mutually support each other in their respective academic strengths – François excels in French, while Serge shines in mathematics – with the shared goal of securing their baccalaureate.

As François comes to terms with his burgeoning homosexuality and develops a deep attraction for Serge, he confides in Maïté, who graciously accepts this revelation, emphasizing that their friendship remains paramount. Later on, we witness a poignant conversation between François and Henri, as they candidly discuss their fears and the emotional toll of Henri’s past experiences following his father’s passing, which had once prompted him to attempt self-destruction.

This intricate tapestry of adolescent struggles, desires, and uncertainties slowly unfolds against the backdrop of 1962 France, where societal norms and expectations loom large. As our protagonists navigate this complex landscape, they must confront their own identities, vulnerabilities, and the delicate balance between friendship and desire.

As the somber reality of Pierre’s passing in Algeria sinks in, Maïté’s mother succumbs to a nervous breakdown, having previously refused to aid Pierre’s desertion. The weight of grief settles upon the family, and Maïté seeks solace with Serge, who, still reeling from his loss, confides in her about his own desires. Though she finds his confession flattering, Maïté reveals a deep-seated longing for independence, yearning to be 10 years older and free from the constraints of her youth.

Meanwhile, tensions simmer beneath the surface as Serge and Henri engage in a heated exchange in the dormitory, their words laced with bitter resentment. François, attempting to intervene, is left injured in the aftermath. Henri’s subsequent revelation that he only bothered them because he believes Serge now comprehends the brutalities of war, having lost his own loved one, only serves to further exacerbate the situation.

As the conflict dies down, François finds himself face-to-face with Maïté, who recoils at his praise for Henri, perceiving it as a thinly veiled attempt to win his affections. François confesses that he is cursed by his uncontrollable desires, and Maïté offers words of wisdom, suggesting that he will eventually outgrow this phase, just as Monsieur Cassagne, the reclusive shoe store owner who now shares his life with his long-term partner.

In a bid to fill the void left by Mme Alvarez’s departure, Monsieur Morelli assumes the role of French instructor. His class recitation of “The Oak and the Reed”, an ancient fable, proves a poignant reminder of the delicate balance between rigidity and flexibility. As he offers his assistance to Henri in his studies, the seeds of change are sown.

As Serge’s absence from school becomes more pronounced, François pays him a visit at his residence, where he uncovers the darker truth: Serge has succumbed to temptation, embarking on a sexual encounter with his brother’s widow Irène. His subsequent desire to marry her, despite lacking genuine affection, serves as a stark reminder of the complexities of human emotion.

In the days that follow, Serge and François embark on a journey to Toulouse, where Serge’s inhibitions are shed like a worn cloak, leaving him drunk and vulnerable in the face of his own vulnerabilities.

As the disillusionment with his life sets in, Henri’s academic pursuits begin to lose their appeal. The once-promising student finds himself wandering aimlessly towards the train station, where a chance encounter with a communist party pamphlet sets him on a new path. His initial intention was to incinerate the local headquarters, but instead, he stumbles upon Maïté, a dedicated member of the party, who invites him for a cup of coffee. As they sit together, Henri’s eyes fall upon one of his mother’s letters, which he has yet to read. It is here that Maïté discovers the depth of his disillusionment and Henri confesses his plan to destroy the party headquarters, but something about her presence stayed his hand. She asks him to leave, and eventually, Henri finds himself at the mercy of the school board, who have seen fit to expel him.

Meanwhile, François, Maïté, and Serge are awaiting their exam results with varying degrees of anxiety. In a moment of levity, they decide to take a break and indulge in a leisurely swim by the river. As Maïté pauses to purchase a bathing suit, François seeks out the wisdom of Monsieur Cassagne, only to be met with a cryptic warning about the perils of meddling with the mysteries of youth. Serge, meanwhile, confronts Maïté about her reluctance to spend time alone with him, and she reveals that it is not just his physical advances that unsettle her but the prospect of any intimate connection whatsoever.

As the group gathers by the river, Henri lingers behind, choosing to stay at a nearby hotel until the evening. It is here that he finally confesses his attraction to Maïté, who reciprocates his feelings. As they surrender to their emotions, François and Serge take a dip in the water, leaving their friends behind. Later, as they swim together, François turns to Serge with a question: have they reached a point of no return in their relationship, or is it time to move on? For Serge, the answer is clear - their earlier encounter was an aberration, a momentary lapse of curiosity that should be forgotten.

As the intimate moments between Maïté (character) and Henri drew to a close, Maïté’s poignant plea for separation echoed through the air like a tender yet resolute whisper. With an unmistakable sense of clarity, she implored Henri to take his leave, citing the profound understanding that their mutual love was not a sufficient reason to surrender to the notion of togetherness. This decision, though undoubtedly rooted in Maïté’s unwavering commitment to her own convictions, left the lingering possibility of what could have been had they chosen to forge ahead together.

As Henri departed, Maïté joined forces with François and Serge, embarking on a collective journey back to the school, their footsteps marking the beginning of a new chapter in their lives.