Lie with Me

Writer Stéphane Belcourt (Guillaume de Tonquédoc) has been suffering from a bit of a creative block when he agrees to return to his childhood home to do a presentation for it's legendary cognac producer. Somewhat disinterested in the whole affair he is greeted by the effusive "Gaëlle" (an increasingly scene-stealing Guiliane Londez) who races around ferrying him from pillar to post in quite a frenetic fashion. Quite by chance, there are some visiting Americans at the vineyard and they are being guided by "Lucas" (Victor Belmondo). The latter man has a surname that triggers memories in the former and now we are taken on a parallel tracked story that illustrates forbidden (first) love from 1984, and offers a shot at redemption for both the younger and the older man. The story is gently paced and the acting - especially from Jérémy Gillet as the author in his younger years - is really quite potent. The story of bigotry and conformity - and the lifelong ramifications for all concerned of fear and shame is played out stylishly and set against a backdrop of conflicted history. A community that lives it's life largely as it makes it's luxury "elixir" - in a time honoured fashion - finds that perhaps the best from that time has now passed. As I watched, I couldn't help wonder just how many people actually lived their lives like this - stuck with an opportunity-free rural existence amongst a gene pool of relationships that was never going to satisfy those more creative, imaginative and , of course, gay who emerged! This is well worth a watch - and Belmondo is a dead ringer for his grand-father too!

"Lie With Me" presents to us a moving tale of first love, secret love and lost love.

On the other hand we also get to see a story about finding out the true character and personality of the ones close to you and also about being honest and candid to yourself. At the core of this picture stands the beautiful and complex acting performance of Guillaume de Tonquedec as the shy and introverted writer Stéphane, who has been and still is openly gay. As a parallel to his character serves Thomas - his first lover - who was in contrast to Stéphane the "popular kid" at their high school but was ashamed of being attracted to a man and as we learn throughout the film - was still ashamed to his dying day. Eventhough this dynamic might seem as a cliche (the "shy character gets secrestly together with the extroverted one") "Lie With Me" provides an interesting take on this genre with its use of queer characters and the fact that Thomas is struggling with his sexual orientation mostly because of himself and his own inner fights (not because of what people around him would think).

I must also mention the simple yet effective way the script was constructed in and also the splendid soft and charming music score.

Lie With Me is a complex story of human character and life in all forms, told by a skillful artist with simple brush strokes. This film explores first love, lust, grief, sexuality and society in a natural and organic way, taking you along two opposite lives ending up in two opposite places. Yet, as everything in life, they're tightly intertwined. One does not exist without the other.

Lie With Me feels fresh because it doesn't single out coming out nor struggles of a same-sex relationship, instead focusing on the entire lives of two people in love, and showing how vastly different they may be. It is not a typical story of grief, which made it even more special. There's great chemistry between Stéphane and the son of his lover - they're pulled to each other for their own personal reasons and having come full circle, provide each other with closure and long lost answers.

I think everyone should watch this movie, because it's a story of life - perfect, flawed and beautiful.

I most liked the message behind Lie With Me: to be authentic, daring and live your truth. You're making the world a better place by being You.

I liked the novel and its adaptation was more than a beautiful surprise. First , because the book offers raisons of non adaptation. It seems the story of intense youth , very personal for viewer , who can be only discovered, page by page , as personal in some measure.

But the film has the gift to represent more than an inspired adaptation.

First, it is the merit of actors, offering a profound seductive experience.

Second, the virtue of script.

Not the last, the feeling of dialogue and precise definition of states , vulnerability.

A famous writer returns to the homeplace. The son of his love from high school is one of his hosts , in kind way. And the past, near the missing periods are one.

In short , a film for who is very easy - and fair to just grateful.

As is the book, the story here is autobiographical and it is felt. The movie captures that quite well, there's a rawness to it that makes it feel like you're watching these events as they are unfolding whether they are in the present or the flashbacks. A movie that goes back and forth between the present and the past is nothing new, and someone reminiscing on their first love isn't either, but this film does a good job of it in the way it's structured. The flashbacks actually feel like memories, as bittersweet as they can be, and contrast well with Stephane now as he's still hurt by them and yet cherish them.

The whole cast is great but there are standouts. Guillaume De Tonquédec is the only actor in the cast I knew by sight but I've seen him more in comedic roles - at least that's the memory I have of him - but he nails it. His internal emotional turmoil reads perfectly as he comes back into town and meets Lucas. In the present scenes, it's mostly him and Victor Belmondo - famous last name and familiar features but the first time I've heard or seen him in anything - they are good but not as poignant as the flashbacks. Julien De Saint-Jean and Jérémy Gillet are just amazing in this film, their scenes give life and weight to the scenes in the present. These flashbacks are intense, believable, and capture gay teenage love well.

Lie with Me / Arrête avec tes Mensonges is sweet considering what it's about, even light at times but it works.

@garcwrites.