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STUDIO: Lions Gate
MSRP: $34.98
RATED: Not rated
RUNNING TIME: 452 minutes
SPECIAL FEATURES:
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André Téchiné is one of France's most respected directors and yet he is not a household name here in the states the way Truffaut or Godard are. Now don't think for one minute I am comparing Andre to those two masters but it is rather surprising that Techine's name is hardly talked about here let alone praised. Hopefully, this four film set will get more movie fans interested in a fantastic director's work.


Hotel America (Hotel Des Ameriques) (1981)

The Humans

Catherine Deneuve, Patrick Dewaere, Etienne Chicot, Sabine Haudepin, Dominique Lavanant, Josiane Balasko

The Nutshell

An unexpected romance between an emotionally unbalanced man, Gilles (Patrick Dewaere), and a successful doctor, Hélène (Catherine Deneuve), has startling consequences.

The Lowdown

Helene is still grieving over the loss of her husband when one night while driving home from work she hits Gilles (Patrick Dewaere). Unharmed by the accident Gilles invites Helene to a coffee house to settle her nerves. Gilles quickly becomes infatuated with Helene and begins to romance her. Still hurting from her loss Helene finds Gilles to be a good listener and she quickly becomes involved with a man she should not be dealing with. Once Helene becomes attracted to Gilles his true colors start to surface as he begins to stalk her and eventually takes control of her life.

This is the sort of movie that takes you in from the start. The way Techine uses the night scenery on the small streets gives off a claustrophobic feeling and that is exactly how Helene's life has been since her husband died. These scenes are also a warning to the viewer that after everything settles down Helene is trapped in a relationship that becomes more suffocating as time passes.

Patrick Dewaere is perfectly cast as the intriguing yet devious character who at first glance appears normal. Watching his character transform into an emotional psychotic is what keeps the movie interesting throughout. Deneuve also puts in a solid performance as the vulnerable, soft-spoken woman who is at a pivotal part of her life that could cause her to either go over the edge emotionally or create a barrier that permanently closes out others getting in.

Techine delivers yet another solid drama that delves into an aspect of relationships many would rather not discuss.

7.0 out of 10


I Don't Kiss (J'Embrasse Pas) (1991)

The Humans

Philippe Noiret, Emmanuelle Béart, Manuel Blanc, Hélène Vincent, Ivan Desny, Christophe Bernard

The Nutshell

After ignoring sage advice from an older gay man (Philippe Noiret), Pierre (Manuel Blanc) gives up his dream of becoming an actor and enters the dark world of male prostitution in Paris. But his luck goes even more awry when he falls in love with a beautiful female prostitute (Emmanuelle Bert) leading to tragic consequences.

The Lowdown

A young man leaving a dead end small town to follow his dreams in the big city is nothing new to movies and yet Andre Techine managed to make that story refreshing. I'm not sure if it is the way he stay focused on the main character or how he placed other characters lives into Pierre's (Manuel Blanc), whatever Techine did here's hoping he continues on this path of making a standard story into something wonderful. I Don't Kiss is by far my favorite film on this set and is one I have watched several times since.

Everything works throughout and a lot of credit has to go to Manuel Blanc who carried this movie (he was in every scene) and the transition from the shy naive young man to someone who has survived some hard knocks and yet is not going to give up is one of the most compelling stories I've seen in awhile. Even with all the praise I am giving this movie there are still a couple of things that bothered me. Pierre's relationship with an older gay man who just happens to appear in Pierre's life conveniently throughout the film. His relationship and subsequent romance with a prostitute (Emmanuelle Beart) just seemed to be inserted into the story in order for Pierre to have something more than a gay lifestyle.

Even with those minor complaints I Don't Kiss is still an exceptional movie.

7.5 out of 10

My Favorite Season (Ma Saison Preferee) (1993)

The Humans

Catherine Deneuve, Daniel Auteuil, Marthe Villalonga, Jean-Pierre Bouvier, Chiara Mastroianni, Carmen Chaplin

The Nutshell

Old woman Berthe leaves her house to live in her daugter Emilie's one. Emilie and her brother Antoine have fallen out three years ago and have not seen each other since, but Emilie invites him for Christmas. Memories will come up, and will be depicted both Berthe's destiny and the strange relationship between Emilie and Antoine.

The Lowdown

My Favorite Season is by far the bleakest movie on this set and possibly of Techine's career. The circumstances behind siblings coming together after a tragedy is not exactly an uplifting story and throughout the movie there appears to be no hope for a happy ending. The most unforgiving people in most cases is one's family and once that line is crossed rarely can it be undone.



When siblings Emilie (Catherine Deneuve) and Antoine (Daniel Auteuil) have not been in contact for over three years. When their mother has a stroke and moves in with Emilie, and with the mothers insistence Antonie is invited over for the holidays. With the entire family together old memories soon surface and all three are placed in a situation to confront each other on what initially split the family up.

As I mentioned earlier My Favorite Season is a bleak movie with little to no hope of a happy outcome. Andre yet again takes his masterful skills at getting the best out of his actors by having them using their emotions at the appropriate time. Even though there are no twist endings or shocking moments I could not help but be mesmerized watching the three main characters interact.

6.0

Wild Reeds (Les Roseaux Sauvages) (1994)

The Humans

Élodie Bouchez, Gaël Morel, Stéphane Rideau, Frédéric Gorny, Michèle Moretti, Jacques Nolot

The Nutshell

"In a village in the Southwest of France, 1962. Maite and Francois are 18 years old. They are friends, not lovers. In Francois's classroom, there are Serge, whose brother has just married to try to escape from the war in Algeria, and Henri, a pied-noir (Algerian-born Frenchman). Francois and Serge will have a homosexual relationship, but Serge wants to marry his brother's wife."

The Lowdown

Wild Reeds is the second coming of age movie on this set involving homosexuality. Instead of the streets of Paris this movie has the Algerian war as the catalyst that is affecting the friends outlook on their current situation and future. Regarded as Techine's best work Wild Reeds wastes no time in bringing you into a world where innocence is lost and the future is not promising, and yet even with these dire circumstances one is immediately drawn in to each character's plight.

Wild Reeds is considered Technie's best work to date which is not surprising considering how detailed he was in making complex characters relatable to the viewer. Watching young men make decisions in order to avoid serving in the war is definitely worth taking the time to watch. Andre Techine yet again adds depth to characters that a less talented director would just have on the screen to fill it up. Not Techine, as he gets the most out of everyone on the screen. 

7.0