By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.5 cats
Director: Sébastien Lifshitz
Starring: Léa Seydoux | Nicole Garcia | Pierre Perrier | Théo Frilet | Yannick Renier
Original language title: Plein sud
Year: 2010
Running time: 87
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1421376/
Thom says: “It’s a bit of a stretch to include this in an LGBT film festival, although one of the characters (maybe two?) is certainly homosexual. But, then again, director Lifshitz did make the rather confusing COME UNDONE, as well as WILD SIDE, both with gay themes so there is that. In this film a brother and sister (Matthieu & Léa are taken on a journey to the south of France after being picked up by Sam at a road-stop). Both brother and sister have a crush on Sam, but he seemingly has no physical interest in either of them. Léa is one of those French girls seen so often in current French cinema that is stupid, self-serving, & manipulative. She also happens to be pregnant. At another stop on the road they meet Jérémie who adores Léa and he joins the trio on their journey. Along the way their constant bickering gets a little tiresome but Sam continues to isolate himself, because of a terrible secret he has. He is on his way to Spain to find his long-lost mother. The film is especially adroit at keeping my interest up even though I’ve seen a number of films with similar themes and while I found the ending unsatisfying the overall effect was memorable. It’s much better than COME UNDONE. 3 1/2 cats”