By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 2.25
Director: Anthony Cordier
Starring: Jean-Philippe Écoffey | Johan Libéreau | Salomé Stévenin
Original language title: Douches Froides
Country: france
Year: 2006
Running time: 102
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0422133/
Michael says: “The best thing I can say about DOUCHES FROIDES, my first film at the Toronto International Film Festival, is that it was all up from there. I was skeptical before I went, just looking at the image from the film and reading its brief synopsis, and it lived up to my very low expectations. Mickael is the captain of the high school judo team and enjoys a steamy romance with fellow student Vanessa. When Clement, the new kid in town, joins the judo team, Mickael is asked to take him under his wing and prepare him for upcoming matches. Gradually, the two boys grow closer, and eventually, Vanessa joins the two in a sexual tryst that apparently shakes Mickael to the core; not that you’d notice. It seems like an excuse to show off some taut, French flesh to me. There are some interesting themes brought up but poorly executed, such as the class differences of Mickael and Clement’s families; and the interesting notion that Vanessa enjoys the threesome because she is more sexually satisfied by two men than one. Watch this one on late-night cable. 1 ½ cats.”
Bruce says: “Mickael (Johan Libérea), nearing the end of his high school days and an accomplished judo career, is from a working class family. His father drives a taxi and his mother is a cleaning lady at his school. Vanessa (Salomé Stévenin) has been his girlfriend since their pre-pubescent days and their relationship is now sexually charged. COLD SHOWERS (DOUCHES FROIDES) is a coming of age story, not the traditional type in which the main character gains valuable knowledge or experience. COLD SHOWERS has a more jaundiced view of adolescence and is focused on the loss of friendship, love, and dreams. Mickael is made aware of the fragility of everything he takes for granted.
“When a rich industrialist comes to judo practice he hand picks Mickael to be the personal trainer for his undisciplined son, Clement (Jean-Philippe Écoffe). Clement turns out to be friendly and willing to share his material goods. The only thing Mickael has to share is Vanessa. After a ménage à trois, Mickael feels left out. His feelings increase as he is literally left out in the cold when Clement and Venessa rent a hotel room and lock him out.
“The judo coach has decided Mickael needs to fill in the gap for the judo team and compete at a lower weight, which means losing a lot of weight in a few weeks. His college level exams are approaching and his starvation diet is affecting his ability to concentrate. His alcoholic father and self sacrificing mother are fighting. An ideal life totally collapses in a matter of weeks.
“The acting is uniformly good, particularly that of Johan Libéreau. The script needs some more meat on its bones. While it is common for teenagers to shrug off adversity, COLD SHOWER carries the emotional detachment of its characters to extremes. 3 cats
“COLD SHOWERS was shown as part of the Rendezvous with French Cinema Festival at Lincoln Center”