Handsome Serge

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Christopher B Le Beau Serge is the first film by Claude Chabrol and in his debut creates a wonderful Drama with solid acting and amazing artistic characteristics. The film which was shot in his own childhood village really adds to the feel of the story and made for a beautiful location. In one of the supplementary features the Director now in his old age talks about going back there and how he does so often. Many of the actors meet one another in the village where many still reside to this day, what a fascinating and wonderful place! The story is one that is very down to earth and focuses on tough and emotional topics and make it a heart wrenching watch that is wonderful to view. This is a hugely influential film in the French New Wave, some argue it's the first, but either way it is truly a fascinating gem! Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 11/01/22 Full Review Audience Member As Francois returns to his hometown to spend the winter after being diagnosed with tuberculosis, he immediately finds Serge, a childhood friend. As much this is their hometown, we get to know nothing about their family. In fact, we know little about that town, and we get to know just a few characters. The contrast between the now city boy and the one who stayed behind in the town where both were born is a key aspect of the movie. They had probably equal starts and at some point seemed equally promising, but Serge stayed behind. To add to the drama, it becomes clearer and clearer that there's more than friendship uniting them: homosexual love or at very least tension. The way they experience and "deal" with their homosexuality or at least homosexual tensions involves women. Both of them seem to overcompensate by being womanizers to a certain extent. In fact women do not serve much more than that role for both of them in this movie. Francois, maybe aware that his coming back to town disrupted more than he should, will eventually attempt to become a hero and help restore Serge's family - a traditional family- and values. The hope that a traditional family and values will cease any other feelings between them. The movie is bit boring and the number of characters and places we get to know are limited. The dynamic among the characters is rich. The homosexuality brings an additional layer to the movie, whether one sees the relationship between the two as a strange friendship or a friendship with hidden homosexual tension. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Audience Member Claude Chabrol's first film has some things going for it, starting with its cinematography, simple in that it's all shot in the French village of Sardent, and yet with at least a few of the glimpses into the techniques that would be called 'New Wave'. One really feels the smallness of the village that François (Jean-Claude Brialy) returns to after some years have passed, only to find his friend Serge (Gérard Blain) a drunkard with a horrible attitude. The scenes in the snow and at night towards the ending are simply beautiful. There is a rebelliousness to the film, mainly in the form of Serge, who is frustrated that his dreams of becoming an architect have been dashed, that he was trapped into a marriage because of a pregnancy, and the baby turned out to be stillborn. François has returned to a crumbling village whose inhabitants lead dissolute lives and believes he can and should help them, but the trouble is, they don't want his help. The relationship between the two isn't particularly profound, but the film is touching in a few places. Adding some spice to it all is Serge's flirtatious sister-in-law (Bernadette Lafont). I didn't care for the musical score, which was too jaunty and annoying in places. After an interesting setup, the plot fizzles a bit, and I think the ending was simplistic. This is a good film, one worth watching, but a better one is Chabrol's film the following year, Les Cousins, starring the same two actors. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Audience Member Great location and Chabrol is able to further establish an authentic feel with a keen examination of country life and the norms of contemporary societal expectations. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review s r Tragic and sad, but powerful. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member An intelligent student returns to his old, depressed town, catching up with his boyhood friend who now leads a dissolute life. It's a very good film. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Handsome Serge

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