FILM
Rendezvous with French Cinema: Three Queer Films
LGBTQ characters, fi lmmakers included in 27th annual event
BY GARY M. KRAMER
Oh, la la! The 27th annual
edition of Rendezvous
with French Cinema
offers a trio of fi lms
by queer fi lmmakers or featuring
LGBTQ characters.
“Guermantes”
One highlight of this year’s program
is “Guermantes,” which is
by out gay fi lmmaker Christophe
Honoré. The fi lm features a cast of
more than a dozen actors from the
Comédie-Française troupe (playing
themselves) as they rehearse a
production of Proust’s “Le Côté de
Guermantes.”
As the fi lm begins, the show
has been cancelled because of the
pandemic and it will likely never
be staged. However, Honoré, the
director of the production, encourages
the cast to keep rehearsing —
“just for us.” The staging provides
some interesting insights about
the relationship between actors as
well as with their director. But it
is the off-stage antics that makes
“Guermantes” interesting.
The fi lm has a fabulous hangout
vibe as the actors spin off into their
own little worlds. Laurent Lafi tte
shows off the trailer for his new
fi lm and stresses over an upcoming
production of “Cyrano.” (He puts a
real homoerotic spin on that text,
getting all touchy-feely with the
actor he is running lines with one
night.) At a group meal, someone
who overheard an actress’ phone
call misunderstands the context of
Lucie Zhang as Émilie, Noémie Merlant as Nora, and Makita Samba as Camille in “Paris 13th District.”
the discussion, prompting an embarrassing
moment.
Other mini-dramas arise. Sébastien
is upset that Anne has been
sketching him (naked, he claims),
while another actor assumes the
relationship between Serge and his
boyfriend Léolo — who is 30 years
younger than Serge — involves a
fi nancial arrangement.
“Guermantes” has an easygoing
rhythm that makes it enjoyable to
watch the cast have a meal, break
off to sleep in the theater, play ping
pong on stage, or dress up and hole
up in a suite at the Ritz (a la Proust).
It becomes fun to spend time with
these people as they discuss love or
run lines by a fi re in their underwear.
Honoré’s fi lm is not the play,
but “Guermantes” emphasizes that
there is beauty in the gesture of
making it — even if it is futile. His
IFC FILMS
jovial fi lm captures the dynamics
at play during the production, and
that, itself, has merit.
Rendezvous with French Cinema
offers moviegoers the chance to
see two fi lms prior to their theatrical
release in April.
“Anaïs in Love”
The title character in “Anaïs in
Love” (Anaïs Demoustier) is a carefree
young student who is late for
every appointment, behind on her
thesis — about passion in 17th
century literature — and owes two
months’ rent. Her charms may
mollify those who are impatient
with her (her landlady, her thesis
advisor), but they also capture the
attention of Daniel (Denis Podalydès),
whom she meets at a party
one evening. The much older man,
a publisher, is smitten with the
impulsive young woman and they
begin an affair. However, it ends
almost as abruptly as it begins.
Moreover, Anaïs soon becomes
infatuated with Emilie (Valeria
Bruni Tedeschi), a writer who is
Daniel’s partner. She feels a deep
connection to this woman she
barely knows, especially after reading
one of Emilie’s books. Hoping
to live out her desire, Anaïs pursues
Emilie at all cost, and the two
women do bond at a literary symposium,
where Emilie is speaking.
But as they dance closely one day,
Daniel shows up. His efforts to control
the situation — to keep Anaïs
away from Emelie — only propels
the young enchantress to up her
game and seduce her crush. Will
love win out? “Anaïs in Love” succeeds
on Demoustier’s irresistible
appeal — if viewers don’t fi nd her
manic character irritating.
“Paris, 13th District”
“Paris, 13th District” is a stylish
romantic drama directed by
Jacques Audiard, who cowrote the
screenplay with lesbian fi lmmaker
Céline Sciamma (“Portrait of a
Lady on Fire”) and Léa Mysius. The
interlocking narratives are adapted
from stories by Adrian Tomine.
The fi lm, lensed in glossy black
and white, opens with a marvelous
tracking shot that introduces Émilie
Wong (Lucie Zhang), an aimless
young woman, and Camille
(Makita Samba), a teacher who becomes
her roommate and, briefl y,
her lover.
When Émilie becomes jealous
that Camille has taken up with
Stéphanie (Oceane Cairaty), he
moves out. Cut to Nora (Noémie
Merlant of “Portrait of a Lady on
Fire”), a law student who is mistaken
for porn star Amber Sweet
(Jehnny Beth). One night, Nora
befriends Amber on her website.
She also quits school and takes a
job working with Camille in a real
estate agency.
Nora and Camille become lovers,
but their connection is more
emotional than physical. As Émilie
re-enters, Audiard fi lms all the
personal and professional ups and
downs with elegance, employing
split screens and time jumps as
he tracks all the coupling, uncoupling,
and recoupling.
The attractive and frequently naked
actors are enjoyable to watch
as they experience their romantic
trials and tribulations. However,
despite its potential, “Paris, 13th
District” is not an especially queer
fi lm; there is only one same-sex
kiss (maybe two) in the entire fi lm,
but it has a nice payoff.
For tickets, showtimes, and the
complete lineup, visit www.fi lmlinc.
org.
RENDEZVOUS WITH FRENCH
CINEMA | March 3-13 | Film at
Lincoln Center
March 10 - March 23, 2 12 022 | GayCityNews.com
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