Best known for six autobio-graphic novels on the split Libyan/French heritage of his youth (a publishing phenomenon in France*), cartoonist Riad Sattouf also writes & directs films, beginning with this César award-winner (Best Debut Feature), a middle-school ensemble comedy, specific enough in its French working-class melieu to offset the familiarity of teen coming-of-age tropes. Including lots of cumming of age with our two lead boys having their ‘jack-off’ socks ready at the drop of a hat, or the drop of a window shade across a high-rise courtyard. Fourteen or fifteen, these two pals know they’re out of the loop compared to their bigger, better-looking classmates, but that hardly stops them from propositioning anyone they fancy. And, compared to American counterparts, certainly not shy about demonstrating exactly what to do technically. (Hopefully without Mom crashing into the room at the wrong moment.) At one point, impulsively sticking a finger into his pal’s mouth to show whether you twirl your tongue clockwise or counterclockwise for a proper French Kiss. The girls, equally demanding and specific in telling the boys what they need from them. But the real surprise here is seeing how perpetually out-of-control school is among the French lower middle-class. Nothing at all like we see in most French film depictions of their disciplined/extremely regulated education system. (Even ruder than a typical Stateside Junior High?) Great non-pro kids, too, with Sattouf picking a winner in lead Vincent Lacoste who’s quickly gone on to a busy, award-winning career. But all the kids are excellent here, even the good looking Beaux Gosses.* (NOTE: Labeled Family Friendly, but only for teens and up, preferably wiih parental units out of the room.)
READ ALL ABOUT IT: *L'ARABE DU FUTUR/THE ARAB OF THE FUTURE; four of the six available in English, the last two on the way.
ATTENTION MUST BE PAID: *The original title translates as The Beautiful Kids. But for a change, the Stateside title is, if not an improvement, certainly more accurate.
No comments:
Post a Comment