Come Undone - It's Undone,
All Right!
by Tallulah Givehead
While some might quote the marketing headline, "Come
Undone is a sexually charged and intelligent
French film about two young guys in love - plenty of
nudity, sex and substance!" ah think this ol' Suthen
Belle is goan to reveal her inner feathahz ... Ah
really don't understay-und French films. Thay-uh
always so ... so ... boring. So much
"day-in-the-life" style and not enough DRAMA. An
this queen needs her drama. Yes. Ta is a victim of
American movie pablum.
Gorgeous bronzed bodies on the beaches of southern
France and a passionate romance between two French
teens are reason enough to see Come Undone, but this
bittersweet film also has something poignant to say
about the heartbreak of gay first love.
Eighteen-year-old Mathieu (Jérémie Elkaïm) is
vacationing at the beach with his family when he
meets local teen Cedric (Stéphane
Rideau, from Wild Reeds). After an extremely
erotic kiss, the boys begin a hot and heavy affair,
complete with skinny-dipping at night, nude dancing
on the beach and intense lovemaking in the dunes.
Yet as Mathieu grapples with his sexuality -- and
copes with his sick mother, absent father and
annoying kid sister -- his bond with Cedric grows
stronger until it bursts. The film, directed and
co-written by Sébastien Lifshitz, beautifully
conveys Mathieu’s coming-of-age -- a scene in
which he comes out to his mother is quite moving.
Our only criticism of Come Undone is the slightly
clumsy time frame change - minor in comparison to
the riches the film has to offer. Both Elkaïm and
Rideau are incredibly sexy leads and give remarkable
performances as the affectionate teens. (French with
English subtitles)
French Dolby Digital 5.1 / Includes interviews with
Jeremie Elkaim and Sebsatien Lifshitz / Featurette
starring lead actor at the Chicago Film Festival /
Cast and crew bios / Chapter stops / Theatrical
trailer
Tallulah Givehead is
a Fabulous drag queen living in Portland, Oregon
(Lord only knows why!) writing reviews of gay film
by day and tearing up the stage by night. You
can read her reviews here as well as at her blog,
QUEER VUE MIRROR.
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